Nissan to Close Oppama Plant, Cut 20,000 Jobs

Nissan has announced it will cease vehicle production at its historic Oppama plant near Tokyo by the end of fiscal year 2027, transferring operations to the Kyushu factory as part of a major global restructuring. The closure affects a facility that has produced nearly 18 million vehicles since 1961 and pioneered robotic manufacturing, including the Nissan LEAF. The restructuring, led by new CEO Ivan Espinosa, will consolidate production from 17 to 10 plants and cut 20,000 jobs worldwide as Nissan seeks to address a $4.5 billion net loss and rising competition from Chinese EV makers. The decision has drawn criticism for its impact on local employment and comes amid politically sensitive Japanese elections. Nissan is also facing challenges from failed merger talks with Honda, high U.S. tariffs, and recent ratings downgrades due to weak profitability. The company has pledged support for affected workers and communities and will disclose closure-related costs in future financial reports.