Components for Nissan’s Nismo division may very well be made in Australia on the automaker’s Dandenong casting facility in line with the efficiency arm’s international boss, Yutaka Sanada.
Talking on the announcement of Australia’s first Nismo Efficiency Centre – additionally one of many first outdoors Japan – resulting from open later this 12 months in Melbourne, Sanada-san instructed media the fanatic division was actively looking for native companions.
“I do know [there is] quite a lot of high-end engineering data right here in Australia, so I would like [Nismo] to collaborate wider, associate in Australia,” Sanada-san instructed media, together with CarExpert.
“Particularly in Australia … [there is] actually superb, superior expertise right here in Australia. It’s my very, very agency impression.”
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When requested whether or not this might embody the automaker’s personal Nissan Casting Australia Plant (NCAP), the Nismo boss stated such a transfer was attainable.
“Why not? This concept … I used to be as soon as accountable for NCAP. I got here to NCAP, so I do know the standard focus of NCAP colleagues,” he stated.
“NCAP is a really distinctive facility; they’re supplying aluminium devoted components worldwide. Our international Nissan battery mission is supported by NCAP as matter of truth, so on this context, clearly there’s potential.”
This transfer may embody elements and ‘heritage’ components for traditional Nissan sports activities automobiles, with the Melbourne Nismo Efficiency Centre initially specializing in R32, R33 and R34 Skyline fashions, which have a major native following.
Nissan Australia opened the Dandenong website in Melbourne’s southeast in 1982. It presently employs just below 200 employees producing components for international Nissan and Renault fashions as a part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.
The plant pivoted to high-value electrical and hybrid elements as a manner of future-proofing itself following a $4.2 million improve in 2024, and presently produces components for the Nissan Leaf and Renault 5 – the latter not bought in Australia – amongst others.
It additionally produces factory-fitted tow bars for the most recent Nissan Navara ute and the upcoming Y63 Nissan Patrol, with many components together with a kangaroo stamping as a nod to their Australian origin.
Whereas factory-owned, the plant should outbid exterior suppliers on high quality and worth to win enterprise, even throughout the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.
The feedback come days after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated Australia may revive its automotive manufacturing business given advances in expertise, suggesting components manufacturing can be a logical place to begin.
Nissan Australia already has a powerful collaborative partnership with native engineering agency Premcar, which developed the suspension bundle for the primary Navara Warrior in 2019 from its Victorian base.
It has since developed the Patrol Warrior and prolonged its chassis-tuning experience throughout the broader Navara lineup launched to Australian showrooms earlier this 12 months.
Nissan Oceania managing director Steve Milette took excessive job in April 2026 and, talking on the identical Nismo occasion as Sanada-san, stated the automaker’s relationship with Premcar stays sturdy.
“I feel it is accomplished effectively,” he replied when requested in regards to the collaboration.
“I imply, after I have a look at at the moment the Y62 Patrol [Warrior] and the extent of engagement of our sellers and clients vis-à-vis the product, it does fairly effectively.
“After which D23 Navara, that is now over, however the Warrior model of it was improbable. I feel it elevated the model for positive, so I see that is a really constructive relationship.”
Talking on the launch of one other Premcar-tuned mannequin, the Mitsubishi Triton Raider, earlier this 12 months, Premcar boss Bernie Quinn instructed CarExpert:
“I feel what we’ve confirmed – whenever you create a halo mannequin, it not solely offers you these incremental gross sales, nevertheless it additionally brings up [overall] gross sales – there’s a lot information that reveals [this].”
A brand new-generation Navara Warrior is scheduled to hitch the Navara lineup later this 12 months and, whereas not formally confirmed, a Warrior model of the next-generation Y63 Patrol is predicted to observe.
