1. The AKPPro Magazine

Nissan has decided to close its factory in Barcelona

Nissan has decided to close its factory in Barcelona, resulting in the loss of about 2,800 jobs.

The closure was announced on Thursday by the automaker's CEO, Makoto Uchida, during a webcast detailing the automaker's new three-year global business plan.

Nissan made the decision to end its operation in Barcelona despite proposals made by the local authorities to keep the plant running, the Spanish government said in a statement.

The closure would cost Nissan as much as 1 billion euros ($1.10 billion), the government said, urging the automaker to look at other options.

The Barcelona factory builds pickups and vans.

Nissan plans to relocate production of the Navara pickup to South Africa, while a replacement for the e-NV200 van would be built at Renault's plant in Maubeuge, France, according to reports.

Nissan earlier this month pushed back against reports that it will reduce its European presence to focus on the U.S., China, and Japan, relying on its two best-selling SUVs, the Qashqai and Juke, in the region.