The last Nissan Navara pickup has rolled off the production line at the firm’s Zona Franca factory near Barcelona.

Nissan started manufacturing in Barcelona in 1983 with the Nissan Patrol. Since that time, 3,345,000 vehicles and more than 15 different models have been made in the plant.

“The teams at Zona Franca, Montcada i Reixac and Sant Andreu de la Barca have played an essential role in Nissan’s history, making products that have been enjoyed by customers around the world,” said Frank Torres, head of Nissan’s industrial operations in Spain.

“On behalf of Nissan, we extend a big thank you to all the workers at the three plants for their contribution to the company over so many years. We remain committed to reaching an agreement on the reindustrialization of Nissan’s Barcelona plants that will provide a solid alternative for the future for the employees at these sites.”

First Nissan Patrol built in Europe on 38 years ahead of the last Navara pickup.
The first Nissan Patrol to be built in Europe

The Nissan Patrol was the first Japanese car manufactured in Europe, with 196,000 of the SUVs built over 18 years until production ceased in 2001. The smaller Terrano SUV joined the production line in 1993, with the Pathfinder SUV and first Navara pickup replacing it in 2005. Both vehicles remained there until the latest generation Navara, the NP300, replaced them both in 2015.

Alongside those vehicles, the factory also produced the Primastar van from 2002 through to 2014, and the NV200 van from 2009. The electric e-NV200 van followed five years later, as did the Pulsar family hatchback.

Nissan Navara on the production line ahead of the last model being produced

Production at the Barcelona factory slowed significantly through 2019 and 2020, with just 40 trucks a day rolling off the production line at one point. A lack of demand as sales plummeted led to fewer orders to fulfil, leaving the factory operating at a fraction of its 500-plus daily capacity.

Nissan’s production demand was also hit by the cancellation of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class, as well as limited European sales of the Renault Alaskan, as both products are based on the Navara’s architecture.

A heavily revised Navara pickup built at the plant in Samut Prakan, Thailand, has been launched in other territories, but Europe won’t be seeing this model. However, an entirely new Navara is expected in 2025, based on the next-generation Mitsubishi L200 platform and, while unlikely, it remains a possibility that this could be introduced in the UK and Europe.

Phil Huff
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