Nissan to shift Versa/Tiida production from Japan to Mexico
With a rapidly appreciating yen and an expected loss of almost $3 billion for the 2008 fiscal year, Nissan is shifting some small car production to Mexico from Japan. The Versa/Tiida (as it's known elsewhere) is expected to be built south of the border for export to the rest of the world. North American-market models are already built in Mexico, and this would consolidate production. CEO Carlos Ghosn already announced cost-cutting efforts that would eliminate 20,000 jobs worldwide, including 12,000 in Japan. The U.S. dollar has dropped 15 percent against the yen in last six months, costing Nissan nearly $1.3 billion.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mazda FTW! 11:14AM (2/22/2009)
Wow the Versa sedan looks disgusting
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Mobius_1 12:09PM (2/22/2009)
Not even Kim Cattrall can persuade me to buy one.
James 12:42PM (2/22/2009)
The Versa is like the word "Renault"...lost in translation into Japanese.
Revolting!
Sea Urchin 2:40PM (2/22/2009)
It is ugly and cheap................but at least people can buy this car, commute A to B and not get into a heavy debt.
I rather drive an ugly Versa and have money in bank account than a fully loaded Honda Accord with NAV and leather and live paycheck to paycheck.
Rumor has it that the economy is bad, that means time to cut useless spending.
Mazda FTW! 6:55PM (2/22/2009)
Sea Urchin - Umm...look at the Kia Forte, Honda Fit, the upcoming Fiesta...same price but they still look (and feel) like cars you wanna own.
Just because you are on a budget doesn't mean you have to go shoot yourself in the foot. That's a common misconception in this market.
MGBYG 8:04PM (2/22/2009)
The Dodge badge spiffs-up a few...not.
Sea Urchin 9:56PM (2/22/2009)
Mazda, you are correct on that point, for a little money you can get a nice car, of course Fiesta is not a production car yet, but there are nice cars for the price point.
Ed 11:28AM (2/22/2009)
I swear, Nissan must have intentionally uglified the Versa in order to avoid cannibalizing Sentra sales. Because I find it hard to believe Nissan designed something that ugly on accident.
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notYou 5:39PM (2/22/2009)
That's actually funny, considering just how hard they beat the Sentra with the ugly stick.
Lar 4:44PM (2/23/2009)
I sense that too. I was convinced that the last generation Accord was deliberately made a little homely (especially rearward of the B-pillar) in order to avoid offering buyers a lower-cost alternative to platform sibling Acura TL.
Farmboy 11:39AM (2/22/2009)
It looks like the Gen 1 Ford Focus. And I DON'T mean that as a compliment.
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ed 12:00PM (2/22/2009)
Why do people buy Sub-Compact Sedans? The 5 door Versa already looks horrible but this sedan which I've seen a couple it's just disgusting.
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Mazda FTW! 12:39PM (2/22/2009)
A lot of people in the North American market demand sedans. Hatchbacks are still seen as some sort of third-world vehicle. The zinger is that SUVs and CUVs are so popular...which, for all intents and purposes, are hatchbacks.
jpm100 12:59PM (2/22/2009)
You can sit off the edge of a tailgate in comfort. Let me know how sitting off the edge of an open hatchback feels.
andyb 12:09PM (2/22/2009)
had one when my car was in for service. We both thought it was the worst car we have ever driven, and i started driving in 86!
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chconline 3:01PM (2/22/2009)
You just haven't been in/drove a Kia Rio. ;)
andrewtheboss 12:25PM (2/22/2009)
I think this awful car must sink during the trip from Japan. In Italy we say "mamma mia..."
American People deserve best cars.. Alfa of course...
Ciao from Italy ;-))
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yaroukh 1:04PM (2/22/2009)
159 FTW :)
chconline 3:03PM (2/22/2009)
While I would not and could not decline your aesthetic claims of Alfa Romeo, the real question should be: Does it start in the morning?
:P
andrewtheboss 8:18PM (2/22/2009)
Well, actually the 1.9 JTDm is also used, with satisfaction, also by OPEL cars in Europe. And many gasoline engines are underneath the hood of some Alfa (2.2 Jts and 3.2).
So i think there are no problem for the morning start ;-)
Probably in the past those problems happens.
The quality of Alfa (and also of the rest of the FIAT group) is growth enormously recently (5/6 years)
The Fiat 500, for example, is considered one of the best (also for quality) car built in Europe, and the new Alfa's follow the trend, just because the plans are to come back to America.
(Sorry for mistkes, these are my former posts)
Bye