The Japanese car manufacturer, Nissan, has started negotiations with the union that represents the staff of its European Regional Office on a series of changes that will include job losses, according to an internal document of the company and emails.
Nissan, currently immersed in an important restructuring, confirmed that he has begun consultations with the representatives of Nissan Automotive Europe personnel, his regional office located in Montigny-Le-Bretonneux, France, where approximately 560 employees work.
This office, which also supervises Nissan’s operations in Africa, the Middle East, India and Oceania, will face significant changes, according to a source with knowledge of the topic that asked to remain anonymous.
The direction and union agreed to first discuss the possibility of volunteer layoffs before considering forced layoffs, according to the document seen by Reuters. Conversations are expected to conclude on October 20 and that all details are shared with the staff in November, according to the same document and internal emails.
“We are working diligently and with respect with all the parties to ensure that this process is carried out with care, transparency and in full compliance with the legal requirements,” said Massimiliano Messina, vice president of Nissan for the region, in an email dated July 31. Messina also pointed out that no definitive decision has yet been made.
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After assuming the position in April, the executive director Iván Espinosa announced a radical restructuring that includes the reduction of around 15% of the Nissan workforce, the decrease in its global production capacity by almost 30% – until 2.5 million vehicles – and the reduction of the number of manufacturing plants of 17 to 10.
The manufacturer, who has registered weak sales in China and faces difficulties in the United States derived from an aggressive expansion strategy, hopes to save 500 billion yen (equivalent to 3.4 billion dollars) with this restructuring.
In recent events, Nissan announced last week that it will stop production at its Civac plant, in Mexico, starting on March next year. He also informed that the production of cars will cease at his Oppama plant, in Japan, in March 2028, and at the Shonan plant, operated by Nissan Shatai, in March 2027.
Nissan employs about 19 thousand people in Europe, Africa, Middle East, India and Oceania, of which approximately 60% is in Europe, according to a diversity report published in October 2024.
With Reuters information
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