Nissan Motor Co. is considering shifting a portion of its Japan-based production for U.S.-bound vehicles to the United States, amid escalating global trade tensions fueled by President Donald Trump’s renewed tariff policies, according to a report by the Nikkei on Saturday.
The move is aimed at avoiding the financial impact of Trump’s aggressive trade agenda, which includes increased tariffs on imports from multiple countries. According to the Nikkei, Nissan may begin scaling back operations at its Fukuoka plant in western Japan as early as this summer, with plans to relocate some production of the Rogue SUV — one of its top-selling models in the U.S. — to American factories.
The report did not specify its sources, and Nissan has not officially commented on the potential shift.
The development comes as automakers globally reassess their supply chains in response to shifting U.S. trade policy. Trump has pledged to prioritize American manufacturing and impose tougher trade restrictions on foreign-made goods, pressuring foreign automakers to boost domestic production.
Nissan, like many other Japanese carmakers, has long operated a mix of domestic and international manufacturing hubs. A move to expand U.S.-based production would align with broader industry efforts to localize operations in major markets and avoid tariff-related cost hikes.
If confirmed, the production shift could impact jobs at the Fukuoka facility while potentially increasing investment and employment at Nissan’s U.S. plants.
By: DNU staff