I wonder if this will improve quality? If I were ordering one now I'd wait until after January. Maybe with a build date in March after they work the bugs out of the new plant.

Nissan moves the Fairlady to the Tochigi plant
Nissan Motor Company has announced that it will transfer production of the Fairlady Z (350Z) and the Fairlady Z Roadster (350Z Roadster) from its Oppama Plant to its Tochigi Plant, with output at Tochigi due to commence in January 2004. The current Fairlady Z has been on sale since the summer of 2002, and sales of the new Fairlady Z Roadster launched on October 1, 2003. Nissan needs the Oppama plant to concentrate on such models as the March (Micra), the Cube and the Cube Cubic. The Fairlady Z is currently produced on the same line as the March. To increase production efficiency, Nissan has decided to transfer production of the Fairlady Z to the Tochigi Plant, where models such as the Skyline (Infiniti G35) are produced using the same platform as the Fairlady Z.

 

I'd be hesitant to believe that quality would change, but it does make sense. If the G35 is already made in that plant, it makes sense to move the Z to that same plant just for efficiency's sake. I certainly wouldn't mind if quality went up, but I don't really think it will just because of a plant change.

 

The Fairlady Z is currently produced on the same line as the March. Are you kidding me? Those are two totally different cars.... maybe that's why we have so many little problems...(2003)

 

Dupe of my post https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....threadid=51056 .

I was confused by their statement about it being produced at the same plant as the March.

There are two plants at Oppama, I toured (on 11/4/03) the one where they produce the Cube, Cube Cubic and March. The other one produces the Z, Infiniti I35 and Maxima QX [for Europe]. They were producing some other model in that plant that wasn't shipping yet so they couldn't take us in there.

 

I was thinking the paint might be better at the new plant.

 

Plus stronger windsheilds.

 

The paint nor windshield will change, but "I" believe quality will improve. The G35 does not have nearly as many "issues" as the Z does.

 

Maybe they will mistakenly place Skyline engines in the new Z's due to this relocation.....

 

FYI - more info on the Tochigi Plant. Looks like it will focus on luxury cars and high-performance cars. And BASF paint is used at Nissan plants in Tochigi and Kyushu. That's not what they are currently using in the Oppama Plant. The move to the new plant should be an improvement.



The Tochigi Plant production will center on large, rear-wheel-drive models such as luxury cars and high-performance cars.

This production transfer will also use the flexible production system based on the Nissan Integrated Manufacturing System (NIMS), which Nissan is incorporating worldwide. Keeping the necessary investment to a minimum, NIMS allows the transfer to be completed in a short period of time.


BASF NOF Coatings Co., Ltd. (BNC)
From a strategic point of view the joint venture with NOF represented a significant step toward strengthening BASF Coatings' business in Asia. In the wake of Nissan's revival plan BNC's Automotive OEM Coatings Division was able to land a three-year contract to supply spray paints to Nissan plants in Tochigi and Kyushu.

 

Sounds like good news.

Don't tell me the Z's paint is the same kind used on Sentras at the Oppama plant.

 

Ah heck. Well, I have to say that I'll be bummed if quality of any sort does indeed improve with this move to the other plant. I *just* ordered my Z in the beginning of November, so I'm assuming mine will be made at the old plant. It sure would steam my twinkie if cars made only a few months later were suddenly of better quality. We'll see, I guess.

 

 

Hey it looks like the Tochigi Plant has a history of building quality cars. This could only improve the Z


1995 Bronze Plant Quality Award to Nissan's Tochigi Plant. This award recognizes a plant's ability to produce cars that result in a very low level of customer complaints.


1996 Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Tochigi Plant
Quality Control Award For Factories
http://www.deming.org/demingprize/winners_qc.html

 

Wha...no Ford plants on that list?

 

hopefully

 

No Sentras are made at either Oppama plant. Sentras (at least US bound ones) are made in Mexico.

 

FYI - I think the 350Z will feel right at home at the Tochigi plant. Maybe this is where they will be testing the Turbo Z.

The Tochigi plant is one of Nissan’s proving grounds, where they drive cars very fast for long distances to see what will break. They have those high-banked curves, too, the ones that make Talladega look flat. You get up on that banking going about 150 mph and all the blood rushes out of your head and down into your feet til your shoe laces pop.

 

I don't think this has anything to do with testing. ?? I believe they are simply moving the *production* of the Z to a new plant. They could test the Z anywhere they wanted regardless of where the cars are physically built.