Nissan to End Argentina Plant, Move Pickup Production to Mexico

Nissan has announced a strategic shift in its Latin American operations by consolidating production of its Nissan Frontier/Nissan Navara pickups at the CIVAC plant in Morelos, Mexico. This move, effective January 2026, will mark the end of vehicle production at its facility in Cordoba, Argentina.

"Becoming the sole production center for the Nissan Navara/Frontier in Latin America is a clear recognition of Mexico’s manufacturing tradition, which has been a key part of Nissan’s history in the country for over 60 years," said Rodrigo Centeno, President and General Director, Nissan Mexicana and Infiniti.

The CIVAC plant currently operates with two production lines. Following this transition, Line C2 will focus entirely on pickup manufacturing, while Line C1, previously used for temporary passenger vehicle production, will cease operations in the last quarter of 2025.

"Our subsidiary in Argentina will continue its commercial operations, maintaining its existing product portfolio while reinforcing our relationship with local distributors and ensuring a superior customer experience," Nissan stated.

Latin America is a key market for Nissan, accounting for 15% of the company’s global sales and 25% of its worldwide production. "In 2024, Nissan Latin America sold 426,000 units, reflecting a 6% growth over 2023. We remain focused on long-term growth in the region," said Guy Rodríguez, President, Nissan Latin America.

Nissan Argentina began vehicle production in 2018 at the Renault plant in Córdoba. Initially producing up to 33,000 units annually, the facility exported to Brazil, Chile, and Colombia. However, production dropped to 17,500 units in 2023, and workers faced 100 days of suspended activity. Nissan cited the need to "improve product competitiveness" as the primary reason for halting production in Argentina.

The company will maintain its sales and service network in Argentina, which includes 65 locations nationwide. Meanwhile, Nissan’s Mexican operations continue expanding. In 2024, the company produced 660,941 vehicles across three production complexes: the CIVAC plant in Morelos and two plants in Aguascalientes. These facilities manufacture seven different models, including the Sentra (198,440 units), Versa (182,826), and the Nissan NP300 pickup (79,675), along with Infiniti luxury models.

The Argentine automotive industry has faced significant challenges, with only 34.8% of its production capacity utilized as of January 2024, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC). This places the sector among the most underutilized industries in the country, second only to textiles.