To get the facility in shape for production of the new model, the carmaker will invest millions for upgrades and additions, in a move that is likely to create the need for an additional shift at the plant. This shift will likely require an extra 1,200 workers.
Production of the Navara in Rosslyn is scheduled to begin in 2020, meaning for the 2021 model year of the nameplate.
“We already have a strong industrial footprint in Africa including plants in Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and a planned facility in Algeria,” said in a statement Peyman Kargar, chairman for the Nissan division that handles operations in Africa, the Middle East, and India.
“Today's announcement highlights the continuing evolution of Africa as one of the most important global markets. In South Africa, this is supported by the government's creation of a stable environment for long-term investment."
The Nissan Navara is known in the Americas as the Frontier and has been introduced to the range in 1997 in response to an increasing demand for pickups. In terms of sales, the model does not stand out in a crowd of other Nissans, but the nameplate seems to be at the center of future strategies for the Japanese.
In the U.S., for instance, there were nearly 80,000 Frontier sold last year, about six times less the Chevrolet Silverado, according to figures compiled by Carsalesbase.com. Global sales totaled 231,435 units in 2018.
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