Nissan Considers Global Factory Sharing with Chinese Partner Dongfeng

As part of its global business overhaul, Japanese carmaker Nissan has announced it is open to sharing its production facilities with Chinese state-owned partner Dongfeng Motor. The move is aimed at improving efficiency and competitiveness amid major shifts in the global auto industry.

One key site under consideration is Nissan’s plant in Sunderland, UK. Though the facility is not facing closure, it is currently operating far below its capacity. Nissan’s Chief Planning Officer, Ivan Espinosa, revealed that partnering with Dongfeng to co-produce vehicles at Sunderland could help boost output and secure local jobs—so long as the plant remains competitive and receives necessary support from the UK government.

This collaboration is part of Nissan’s broader effort to restructure operations worldwide, especially as the company scales back production in underperforming locations. Nissan has already announced plans to stop vehicle production at its Wuhan plant in China by 2026, following poor performance there.

Despite this, the Nissan-Dongfeng alliance remains strong. The partners are investing in new strategies to remain competitive in the fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) market. They plan to launch ten new electrified models by 2026 and begin exporting 100,000 vehicles annually starting in 2025.

Additionally, Dongfeng Nissan is accelerating its shift to electric vehicles, aiming to release four new EV models in 2025. The company is also collaborating with Chinese tech giants like Huawei and Baidu to introduce smart driving technologies in future models.

Nissan’s willingness to share factories with Dongfeng signals a more flexible, innovation-driven approach as it navigates the rapidly evolving automotive landscape.