Nissan expands in Asia

Nissan expands in Asia

TOKYO (AFP): Japan's Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. said yesterday its new guidelines for expanding global production were focussed on boosting vehicle capacity in Asia while establishing new engine plants in the United States.

The country's second-biggest carmaker said vehicle production capacity in Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia was targeted to grow from the current level of 100,000 units to 170,000 units by next year at the earliest.

In a statement coinciding with an agreement on the auto trade between Tokyo and Washington in Geneva, Nissan said its output of 800,000 vehicles a year in the United States and Mexico was "sufficient" for North America and Latin American markets.

The company said it would focus on its new Tennessee engine plant where production is to start in 1997 at a rate of 200,000 units a year. Nissan will also start production of forklift engines in the United States next year at a rate of 20,000 units a year.