The Oppama Plant, which has been in operation since 1961 will cease operations by March 2028. Roughly 2,400 workers will be affected. Other facilities and functions in the district—such as the Nissan Research Center, test track, the crash test facility, and Oppama Wharf—will remain unaffected and continue operations as usual.

Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa stated, “Today, Nissan made a tough but necessary decision. It wasn’t easy—for me or for the company—but I believe it’s a vital step toward overcoming our current challenges and building a sustainable future. The Oppama Plant is a proud part of our history, and its legacy will endure. I want to sincerely thank our employees, the local community, and our partners who have supported this plant with dedication and heart. We will continue to operate in the Oppama area with strong support for the local community, as we carry forward the spirit of Oppama plant and work to restore Nissan’s true value.”

Espinosa further clarified that there won’t be any other consolidation or cutting of vehicle production sites in Japan. He added that it hasn’t been decided whether employees will be transferred within the company, or to whom some assets will be resold.

Regarding the future utilization of the Oppama plant after production ends, Nissan will explore a wide range of options to determine the most appropriate path forward.

The Oppama plant has a long production legacy — it was the facility to make the first-generation Leaf, the world’s first mass produced electric vehicle, in 2010. The hatchback marked a major milestone for Nissan and was initially built exclusively at Oppama. As Leaf production shifted elsewhere, the plant’s output narrowed to focus on smaller vehicles, primarily the Nissan Note and its upmarket twin, the Nissan Aura.

Under Re:Nissan, Nissan aims to reduce its global production capacity from 3.5 million units (excluding China) to 2.5 million units, while maintaining a plant utilization rate of around 100 percent. To achieve this, the company has been considering the consolidation of production sites from 17 to 10.

Nissan also has announced that production of the NV200, currently consigned to the Nissan Shatai Shonan Plant, will end in fiscal year 2026. A successor to the NV200 is planned for introduction in fiscal year 2027.