Nissan Motors earlier announced the signing of a Collaboration Protocol between the Autonomous Government of Castilla y Leon in Spain, the Avila City Council and Nissan Motor Iberica to develop an infrastructure network in the territory. The said network is aimed at improving competitiveness of the automaker's light commercial vehicle production.
According to the Protocol, the Autonomous Government of Castilla y Leon will develop the local logistics infrastructure and services that will facilitate Avila's role as a major industrial player in the region. The Avila City Council will also provide a minimum of 11 hectares of land to accommodate the infrastructures. The automaker's part is to provide the necessary technical support. As stated, Nissan will benefit from these services and infrastructure when completed.
The infrastructure network include a parking and storage lot for a minimum of 1,650 trucks and containers; a supplier park with plants for a minimum of 8,500 square meters; a dedicated customs zone to maximize the speed of logistic procedures from Avila to the global market; and a railway-road hub for the interchange of trucks and train transportation of parts and vehicles.
The logistics and service hub will improve Avila plant's ability to receive and integrate parts from leading cost competitive countries as well as to send KD parts to other Nissan plants. "With the collaboration of Nissan and the local authorities we are creating the conditions to enhance the cost structure of our plant, and improve the efficiency of the whole supplier-plant value chain", said Jose Vicente De Los Mozos, the Vice President of the Nissan Spanish Industrial Operations.
The automaker will invest 1.6 million euros to build a 1,500 meter track as a dedicated LCV proving ground within the Avila plant. The proving ground will be used by the automaker in conducting painstaking product test-drives to be conducted onsite to improve the quality of its products at the same time support the development of forthcoming Nissan vehicles. Auto parts like , axle assembly and body kits will also be tested in the proving ground.
As announced in the Nissan Green Program 2010, the company is undertaking a wide range of environmental initiatives in CO2 reduction and promotes energy conservation through wider use of renewable energy resources. As such, the Avila plant will be equipped with the largest solar panel structure in Spain for industrial use. The total surface of the solar panels will sum to 1,335 square meters and will generate 608,000 Kwh annually. This will trim down 267 tons of CO2 emissions each year.
"We want the Avila plant to be the best Nissan light duty truck production site in the world. The improvements we are announcing today represent an investment on the future of Nissan's LCV business, and the commitment of the Avila plant for an ever improving competitiveness," noted De Los Mozos.
