Nissan and Daimler inked a deal in 2015 to build the Cooperation Manufacturing Plant Aguascalientes (COMPAS) in central Mexico. The 50:50 joint venture invested $1 billion in the factory, where production began in 2017 with the Infiniti QX50 and QX55. The Mercedes A-Class joined the assembly line a year later, followed by the GLB in 2019.
The A-Class was short-lived, with production ending in 2020. We’ve now learned that the remaining models are also on their way out. Nissan spokesperson Brian Brockman told WardsAuto that the QX50 and QX55 will both be retired later this month. Meanwhile, a Mercedes spokesperson revealed that the final GLB crossover will roll off the line in May 2026. With no vehicles left in production by mid-next year, the site will shut down.
Aguascalientes is the third of seven factories Nissan plans to close as part of a major restructuring effort to drastically cut costs. The Oppama plant in Japan and the Ciudad Industrial del Valle de Cuernavaca industrial park in Mexico will face the same fate. In addition, design studios in San Diego and São Paulo are being shuttered.
Although the joint manufacturing venture is winding down, Infiniti sees the QX60 as a successor to the QX50, while the upcoming QX65 will replace the QX55. The coupe-style SUV was previewed by the QX65 Monograph concept ahead of a potential 2026 launch.
As for Mercedes, the GLB will live on with a second generation featuring both combustion and electric drivetrains, echoing the new CLA.
Nissan is betting on recovery through downsizing. The factory and design studio closures are part of a plan to reduce its workforce by 20,000 employees. The number of vehicle platforms will drop from 13 to 7, while annual output will shrink by one million units to 2.5 million.
Parts complexity is expected to decline by up to 70 percent, supported by a broader “design simplification” initiative. A cost-cutting task force formed a few months ago has already identified 4,000 potential savings ideas, with 1,600 considered viable. For instance, simply reducing the number of headrests could save the company serious money. Yes, the situation is that dire.
Still, it’s not all bad news. Alongside the QX65, Nissan has a wave of fresh products coming. The company has already unveiled the new Leaf and Sentra, along with the next-generation Elgrand minivan. China will get two new sedans (the N6 and Teana), plus a plug-in hybrid Frontier pickup truck. There’s also a new rear-wheel-drive Skyline on the horizon with an Infiniti twin, and the Xterra is set to return in 2028.
Between its recovery plan and upcoming product offensive, Nissan has reasons to believe it can get back on track.
Source: WardsAuto
