Nissan’s Aussie casting plant ‘booming’

OUTPUT at the Nissan Casting Australia Plant (NCAP) in Melbourne’s Dandenong South is “booming and increasing” as it supplies core components for the E-Power hybrid drive system that is proliferating through Japanese car-maker’s worldwide model portfolio.

Speaking to GoAuto at the launch of the front-wheel drive X-Trail E-Power and X-Trail Rock Creek in New Zealand, Nissan Oceania managing director Steve Milette said the plant had not been affected by the car-maker’s global Re:Nissan restructure that targeted vehicle assembly capacity and HQ headcount.

“There were no announcements made. In fact, they’re the only supplier for some of the stamping of E-Power, like the five-in-one system,” he said.

“Their volume of output is actually booming and increasing.”

Established in 1982, NCAP employs more than 192 staff and contractors and can produce up to 1.2 million die-cast aluminium parts and towbars a year, according to Nissan.

It is the sole global manufacturer of core components for the five-in-one E-Power hybrid drive system and also supplies parts for models including the Qashqai, Leaf, Navara, X-Trail and Patrol, as well as models from Nissan premium sub-brand Infiniti.

“At NCAP they produce components for the world. So obviously it’s still there. It’s active. It’s going to continue,” added Mr Milette.

The plant achieved Australian Made certification in 2025, and its components carry a raised kangaroo motif to denote their Australian origin.

“They produce some very vital components,” said Mr Milette.

“Every E-Power in the world will have a kangaroo stamp going there somewhere.”

Asked how the plant remained competitive in a globalised industry, Mr Milette credited its leadership and efficiency.

“It’s the only parts supplier or production facility (in Australia) from an automotive OEM perspective,” he said.

“I think it’s a testament to the plant and the people that are leading it and the efficiency that they’ve driven. There is automation in the plant.”

Nissan has previously announced a circular-economy project that will use batteries from end-of-life Nissan hybrid and battery electric vehicles to help power component manufacturing at NCAP.