Nissan to Shut Down Oppama Plant in 2027

Jul 16, 2025 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Nissan Motor announced on the evening of July 15th that it will end vehicle production at its key Oppama Plant in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, by the end of fiscal 2027. Company President Ivan Espinosa held a press conference at 5 p.m. to explain the decision.

"This was a painful decision for me personally and for the company," said Espinosa. "However, we determined it was necessary for Nissan to overcome the current difficult environment and return to a growth trajectory."

Vehicle production will be transferred to Nissan’s Kyushu operations, though the adjacent facilities in the Oppama area, including the General Research Institute and test centers, will continue operating.

Espinosa also announced that outsourced production at Nissan Shatai’s Shonan Plant in Hiratsuka will be discontinued. However, he stated there are no further plans to reduce or consolidate domestic production bases beyond these changes.

An employee working at the Oppama Plant said, "I need to start looking for a new job. I found out when the announcement was broadcast in the cafeteria. I had been prepared for the possibility of the plant shutting down, but I’m worried about what happens next."

Following the announcement, the Yokohama city government, which hosts many affiliated businesses, convened an emergency meeting to discuss response measures, highlighting the broader impact of the decision.

Source: TBS

Weekend Downpours Expected as Typhoon No. 7 Looms

Heavy rain is expected across a wide area of Japan this weekend, with western Japan facing cloudy and rainy conditions on June 19 and Kyushu likely to see torrential rain and thunderstorms before rain clouds move eastward toward eastern Japan and Tohoku through June 21.

Volcanic Alert Raised Ahead of Hokkaido Hiking Sesson

The eruption alert level for Mount Tokachidake in Hokkaido was raised to Level 2 on June 18 for the first time in 12 years, prompting authorities to restrict entry within 1.5 kilometers of the crater and close parts of hiking trails just days before the mountain’s official opening for the summer climbing season.

Bears Growing More Aggressive in June and July

Bear attacks and sightings are increasing across Japan, with multiple people injured on June 17 and experts warning that bears are becoming more accustomed to human environments, potentially leading to more dangerous and unpredictable encounters in the years ahead.

Supreme Class Debuts on Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen

JR Central and JR West on June 17 announced pricing and service details for the new private-room seating that will be introduced on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen from October, creating a new top-tier class above the existing Green Car service.

All of Prime Minister Takaichi's Proposals Included in G7 Statement

A draft of the joint statement from the G7 summit in France has revealed that all proposals put forward by Prime Minister Takaichi on energy security and critical minerals have been incorporated into the agreement.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Japan Inflation Stays Below 2% For Fourth Straight Month

Japan's nationwide consumer price index rose 1.4% in May from a year earlier, staying below 2% for the fourth straight month as lower rice, gasoline, utility and school tuition costs helped curb the overall increase.

Nikkei Average Hits Record High For Fourth Straight Day As Yen Weakens

The Nikkei Stock Average surged past 71000 on Thursday, closing at a record high for the fourth straight session, as easing tensions in the Middle East lifted investor sentiment while the yen weakened to a nearly two-year low against the dollar.

Nissan Launches New Kicks SUV With Improved E-Power System

Nissan Motor announced that it will launch the fully redesigned Kicks compact SUV on June 18, marking the model's first full overhaul in six years as the automaker seeks to strengthen its position in Japan's highly competitive small SUV market.

50-Year Home Loans Gain Traction

Japan's return to a world of higher interest rates is reshaping household finances, with a growing number of young homebuyers turning to 40- and 50-year mortgages to afford rapidly rising apartment prices, according to a discussion aired on BS-TBS's Report 1930 on June 17.

Six Ice Cream Makers Investigated Over Price-Fixing

Japan's Fair Trade Commission has conducted on-site inspections of six major food manufacturers over suspicions they formed a cartel to coordinate ice cream prices, with authorities investigating whether the companies exchanged information and unfairly adjusted planned retail price increases in response to rising costs.

Nikkei Average Stock Price Reaches 70,000 Level for First Time

The Nikkei Stock Average briefly topped the 70,000 mark for the first time on June 16, rising as much as 700 points to an intraday high of 70,020 after the Bank of Japan's decision to raise interest rates matched market expectations, before retreating as investors locked in profits, though the benchmark still ended the day at a record high.

BOJ Raises Policy Rate to 1% for First Time in 31 Years

The Bank of Japan decided at its monetary policy meeting on June 16th to raise its policy interest rate for the first time in four meetings, lifting the benchmark rate from around 0.75% to around 1.0%, the highest level in 31 years.

Okinawa Coca-Cola Launches Large-Scale Solar Powered Factory

Okinawa Coca-Cola Bottling has begun operating a large-scale solar power generation system at its Urasoe plant, aiming to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 330 tons annually while expanding the use of renewable energy in the prefecture.

< 2 3 4 5 >