Nissan delays restart of US plant

Nissan has delayed the restart of its Tennessee automotive plant for another two weeks.

The Smyrna, Tennessee, sedan and sport utility (SUV) plant had been expected to come back on line on 30 August, but now will remain closed through 12 September.

The extended closure is the latest for the North American auto industry, which has suffered at the hands of global semiconductor shortages brought on by rising personal electronic use and the shutdown of the auto industry in mid-2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic rippled across the continent.

Ford and Stellantis recently announced additional production cuts, with Ford reducing production of its top selling and steel- and aluminum-intensive F-150 full-size pickup truck at its Kansas City, Missouri, plant and reducing production to one crew at its Dearborn, Michigan, truck plant.

By Rye Druzin