Valls: "With a focus on the regional market, we started production in Argentina"

Four years after his announcement of investment, the Japanese automaker Nissan began Monday to produce in Cordoba the first units of its model Pickup Frontier, destined to the local and Latin American market. In principle, about 70,000 vehicles will be manufactured annually, intended for export, mainly to Brazil. The project involved a disbursement of US $ 600 million, would create 1,000 direct jobs and 2,000 indirect jobs in its supplier network.

"This is a strategic bet for the Latin American market, thinking in the next 15 years and beyond José Luis Valls, vice president and president of the company for Latin America, after the production launch ceremony, in the presence of Hiroto Saikawa, global CEO of the company, Argentine President Mauricio Macri and Governor José Schiaretti, among other authorities.

Nissan Frontier pickups have begun to be manufactured in the factory owned by Renault in Córdoba, thanks to a global agreement of the two car manufacturers, and it will also benefit from the network of suppliers and consolidated autoparts in this province.Before the end of the year, Year, two new models will be added: one for Renault and one for Daimler Benz. "When we decided to play hard in Latin America, we started by settling first in Brazil and now in Argen tine, with a 32% production of domestic components, which will increase to 40%, "says Valls. This is the only way to locate in these markets, which are protected, and which also protects us from external volatilities, "said the executive.

" It is true that the movement currency exchange of the last few months increased our costs – admitted – but we decided to think of long-term investment, and this cimbronazo is not a reason to go back, but to redouble the bet, because we believe that Argentina is on the right track of reintegration in the world. "

the Japanese automaker imported most of its vehicles from Mexico, with a quota system and paying a tariff of 35%." By badembling pickups locally, you can not only increase your presence in the market, but also export to Brazil and participate in the "flex" agreement that allows you to enter 1.5 USD for every 1 USD exported.In Mexico, Nissan is the number one auto in the production and sales, with 25% of the market and nearly one million units a year.The second largest regional market is Brazil, a country that is going through an election period with uncertain prospects.In this regard, Valls stressed that "we have good expectations, we only ask for clear rules to be able to adapt."

Regarding the future of the automotive industry, the executive badured that "the course is towards the sustainable mobility of new technologies depends regulations and incentives put in place by local governments. "The Japanese company is a leader in the production of electric cars with its Nissan Leaf model, which will begin to be imported and sold in the country at the end of the year. is not expected to produce it locally. "There are lithium reserves here, but there is a lack of infrastructure and a critical mbad of the market," he said.