F&I Management & Training

Nissan has cut production at its car plant in Sunderland to avoid stockpiling new cars that aren't selling.

Production of the Micra and Note will be suspended for two weeks between late October and November and shorter working times will be introduced for a three week period.

Manufacturing of the well-received Qashqai remains unaffected due to a 12-month waiting list in Russia , which has kept the line open.

The Japanese carmaker's plant in Barcelona, which recently suffered 1,680 jobs losses, will also reduce its production capacity.

Nissan said it was introducing the measures in order to "manage volume, reduce existing inventory and prevent over supply to a weakening market."

Employees at both plants will receive training during the non-production days.

The production cuts follow the carmaker's announcement last week that it was looking to make redundancies at its Sunderland factory.

It has introduced a voluntary redundancy scheme but Nissan warned it would axe temporary workers if too few come forward.

DATED: 21.10.08

FEED: MT