NISSAN has used Australian Made Week to spotlight its long-running local manufacturing operation in Victoria, highlighting the global importance of its Melbourne casting plant in supplying components for hybrid, electric, and combustion-powered vehicles sold around the world.

 

The Nissan Casting Australia Plant (NCAP), located in Dandenong South, has been operating for 44 years and remains a key part of Nissan’s global manufacturing network, producing critical aluminium die-cast components for vehicles ranging from the Leaf EV to the Patrol large SUV.

 

Established in 1982, the facility now employs more than 190 staff and contractors and produces around 1.2 million aluminium castings and towbars annually for domestic and export markets.

 

Of growing significance is the plant’s role in electrification.

 

NCAP is Nissan’s sole global manufacturing site for core components used in the company’s latest 5-in-1 e-Power hybrid system, making the Australian operation strategically important to the brand’s future electrified vehicle rollout.

 

It also manufactures driveline components for the Leaf electric hatchback.

 

Nissan Oceania managing director Steve Milette said the facility demonstrates the depth of local capability.

 

“Innovation doesn’t just happen overseas, the Nissan Casting Australia Plant demonstrates the depth of manufacturing expertise, skill and capability we have right here in Australia,” he said.

 

“For 44 years, the team at NCAP has produced world-class components that support Nissan vehicles driven around the globe.”

 

Components produced at the Victorian site support a wide range of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles, including: Nissan Qashqai (latest e-Power hybrid system), Leaf, Navara, Patrol / North American Armada, X-Trail / North American Rogue, Pathfinder, Kicks, Note, Serena, Murano, Skyline, Titan, Civilian (bus), and Infiniti QX80, Infiniti QX60, and Infiniti QX50.

 

The breadth of applications highlights the continuing relevance of Australian manufacturing in global automotive supply chains, even as local full-vehicle production disappeared years ago.

 

Although the facility only officially gained Australian Made certification last year, Nissan says its local identity has long been embedded in its products.

 

Many castings produced at the plant carry a raised kangaroo motif, a subtle identifier marking their Australian origin before being shipped internationally.

 

“The kangaroo motif proudly cast into many of the components over the years may be small, but it represents something much bigger,” said Mr Milette.

 

Nissan says its milestone serves as a reminder that while Australia no longer builds complete passenger vehicles, advanced automotive manufacturing capability remains active in specialist supply roles.

 

The Dandenong operation is not simply a legacy facility, it is an active contributor to the company’s electrification program and global production network, says Nissan.

 

As automakers increasingly focus on EVs and hybrid technologies, NCAP’s critical role shows Australian industrial capability still has a place in the future automotive landscape.

 

South Korea car giant Hyundai says it has experienced a massive surge in interest in electric vehicles, which now account for 20 per cent of its order volume, up from 3 per cent before the fuel supply crisis emerged after the breakout of the latest Middle East war.

The company says it has seen a more than four-fold increase in EV orders in March – up to 1,037 from 228 in February – with the Kona EV and the newly released Elexio leading the way.

“EVs now account for 20% of our volume – previously we were at less than 3%,” said Hyundai Motor Company Australia director of sales, David Rodda. “We are planning for a 70% increase in EV orders for the second quarter over Q1.”

Rodda says Hyundai Australia has  secured a 158% supply increase of EVs for quarter two to meet this unprecedented level of demand, and these vehicles will start to arrive from May. It is confident the increased supply can continue for the rest of the year.

Hyundai says it has a supply of 1,226 Kona EVs for the second quarter, up from 305 in the March quarter, and also has 1,180 of the new Elexio EVs, up from 750 in the first quarter. Wait times are several months.

It is also increasing its supply of the small Inster (to 255 from 84), and the Ioniq 5 (to 150 from 96). It says the order level in March and April is triple the level of January and February for the Kona, Inster and Ioniq 5, and more than 10-fold for the Elexio.

Hyundai also provided this week by week data of its order numbers, showing the surge in interest in the 3rd and 4th week of March.

Hyundai says it expects to boost order with the release of the Ioniq 3 hatch early next year and the Staria commercial van later this year. It is also seeing a strong interest in hybrid orders, which rose to 3,966 in March from 3,049 in February, and accounted for a record 57 per cent of total orders in March.

See The Driven’s detailed EV sales data here: Australian electric vehicle sales by month in 2026; by model and by brand

Sign up for The Driven’s free daily newsletter by going to the button on the bottom right of the website’s home page at www.thedriven.io