Oppama, one of six domestic plants operated by Nissan, employed approximately 3,900 staff as of October last year. The site, which has been operational since 1961, played a pivotal role in the brand's history and was notably the first to produce the Nissan LEAF—widely recognised as the world's first mass-market electric vehicle. The decision to halt production at Oppama reflects the company's response to mounting financial pressure and increased competition, particularly from rapidly expanding Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers. Nissan's business challenges have been compounded by the collapse of merger discussions with Honda Motor Co Ltd earlier this year. The proposed deal, which would have seen Nissan become a subsidiary of Honda, was abandoned in February. Once viewed as a potential pillar of stability, the abandoned merger was part of Nissan's wider turnaround strategy, which also included a significant reduction in its global workforce by 15 per cent.