June 10, 2008

Nissan Cuts SUV, Truck Output, Increases Altima Production

Nissan announced that it will increase production of its Altimas by 2,000, to about 17,000 monthly, and cut production of its sport-utility vehicles, CNN.com reports.

Nissan’s announcement came days after GM said it was shutting four truck plants, eliminating 10,000 jobs and considering “repositioning or selling” the Hummer brand because, in the face of high gas prices, most consumers are looking for more efficient vehicles.

Nissan also has announced it will launch a clean diesel car in Japan later this year, The AP reports.

The company says it will send a prototype of the X-Trail diesel, a sport utility vehicle, to the G-8 meeting in Toyako, in northern Japan, for delegates there to test drive.

The new X-Trail can get up to 30 percent better gas mileage than its gasoline-based counterparts, is as powerful as a six-cylinder, 3.5-liter gasoline engine, and will meet Japan’s tougher 2009 emissions requirements, the company says.

Other efficient cars the company has plans for include a clean-diesel version of its popular Nissan Maxima in the US, and an electric car in the US and Japan in 2010.

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