Nissan Quest Production Moving to Japan

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. says it will shift output of its Quest minivan from its Canton, MS, plant to Nissan Kyushu, Japan, plant.

While Nissan confirms the move, it does not say what will replace the Quest at Canton. The auto maker says it will not be cutting staff at the plant.

Reports earlier this year indicated the Quest would leave Canton to make room for a heavy-duty version of Nissan’s Titan pickup truck.

Japan’s Nihon Keizai newspaper reports production of the Quest and Infiniti QX56 large SUV will be shifted to Japan in 2008 or 2009, but Nissan does not confirm the timeframe or the shift of the QX56 to Japan.

Ward’s data shows Nissan’s truck production at Canton is down 31.3% through August at 99,643 units. Quest production is down 7.6% to 27,008 units in the first eight months of 2006; QX56 production is off 27.7% to 8,769 units.