Nissan to Shift Van Production From Spain to France

Nissan Motor Co. plans to relocate production of its next-generation Primastar commercial van from Barcelona, Spain, to alliance partner Renault SA's factory in Sandouville, France, Le Monde reports.

The Paris-based newspaper, which cites anonymous sources, says the Sandouville plant also will make the next iteration of the Opel Vivaro van, which currently is built alongside the Primastar in Barcelona.

The Primastar and Vivaro ride on the same platform as the Renault Trafic, which the Sandouville facility will start making next year. The French carmaker said two years ago it would transfer Trafic output there from General Motors Co.'s Opel/Vauxhall factory in Luton, England. GM has said the U.K. plant will continue to produce versions of the Vauxhall Vivaro.

The addition of Primastar and Vivaro production in France would help Renault keep its pledge to French unions to boost its domestic output by 180,000 units by 2016, including 80,000 vehicles made by partners Nissan and Daimler AG.

Le Monde notes that Renault plans to boost existing output of Daimler's Mercedes-Benz Citan delivery van at its factory in Maubeuge, France, to 40,000 units this year from 14,000 units from 2012.