A fresh report claims the Australian-developed “Warrior” flagship version of the latest Nissan Navara might end up being built in South Africa.
Of course, local production of the refreshed Navara bakkie is due to start at the firm’s Rosslyn plant in June 2021, with the expanded line-up expected to gain single-cab derivatives as well as double-cab variants across a broader specification range.
According to motoring.com.au, however, the range may end up including not only the Pro-4X but also the new Warrior, complete with uprated suspension, all-terrain tyres, added practicality and choice styling tweaks.
As a reminder, the original Warrior was developed and assembled by a Melbourne-based contractor called Premcar. But the head of Nissan Australia now says there is interest from other parts of the word, including South Africa.
“We now have South Africa and even the African continent where there is a more robust feel that the Warrior concept or idea fits into what consumers would be wanting or expecting,” Nissan Australia boss Stephen Lester revealed to motoring.com.au.
“We are at fairly infantile stages right now in terms of that discussion and what could work or how it could work, but any time you can have those discussions and expressions of interest around what can be possible they are encouraging signs for us.”
The publication suggested if an agreement were to be put in place, the Warrior would likely be assembled “under licence” alongside the standard Navara in South Africa.
“I think is a great opportunity for it [the Warrior] and even if it is just some of the work we do with Premcar that we can export for them and either send over – even if it is just the IP [intellectual property] – I think it would be a great example for our team here,” Lester said, going on to describe South Africa as a “dual-cab market”.
“There are not a lot of markets around the world, within Nissan anyway, that are building projects quite as detailed as this and then rolling it out and being successful at it.”
