Nissan Motor, a Japanese automaker, has initiated discussions with the union representing employees at its European regional office, Nissan Automotive Europe, regarding organizational changes that may involve job reductions. This move comes as part of the company’s extensive restructuring efforts, aiming to generate savings of $3.4 billion for Nissan, which has been facing challenges such as declining sales, particularly in China and the US.
The regional office, situated in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France, currently employs around 560 staff members and oversees operations across the Middle East, Africa, Oceania, and India. Internal company communications have confirmed the company’s intention to explore voluntary redundancies before considering any compulsory layoffs.
The discussions between management and the union are expected to conclude by October 20, 2025, with a full briefing for the staff scheduled for November. Nissan’s Vice Chairperson for the region, Massimiliano Messina, emphasized the importance of conducting the process with care, transparency, and in compliance with legal requirements in an email sent on July 31.
Nissan’s CEO, Ivan Espinosa, who took on the role in April, has announced a comprehensive restructuring plan that includes a 15% reduction in the workforce, a 30% cut in worldwide production capacity to 2.5 million vehicles, and a decrease in manufacturing sites from 17 to 10. The company recently announced the cessation of production at its Civac plant in Mexico by March of the following year and the winding down of car manufacturing at its Oppama plant in Japan by March 2028.
In addition, Nissan’s global sales figures for June 2025 indicated a 5% year-on-year decrease, with both domestic and international sales experiencing a downturn. Sales in Japan fell by 3.7%, while overseas sales saw a 5.1% decline.
Nissan employs approximately 19,000 individuals across Africa, India, the Middle East, Oceania, and Europe, with a majority based in Europe. The restructuring efforts aim to address the company’s financial challenges and realign its operations to ensure long-term sustainability in a competitive automotive market.
