Nissan celebrates Australian Made Week at Melbourne plant

Key takeaways

• Nissan spotlights Melbourne factory for Australian Made Week 2026
• Dandenong South plant has run for 44 years
• Local team produces 1.2 million parts annually for export

Nissan is using Australian Made Week 2026 to put a spotlight on the team behind its Nissan Casting Australia Plant in Victoria. The Dandenong South facility has been turning out parts for Nissan vehicles since 1982, making it one of the longest-running pieces of automotive manufacturing left in the country.

A 44-year Australian manufacturing story

Australian Made Week celebrates locally produced goods and the people who make them. For Nissan, that means recognising more than 192 staff and contractors at NCAP who collectively produce around 1.2 million die-cast aluminium parts and towbars every year.

The plant officially earned Australian Made certification in 2025, but many of the components it produces have carried a raised kangaroo motif for decades. It's a small detail that signals where the part was cast and the craftsmanship behind it.

Melbourne-made parts in global Nissans

Components from the Dandenong South site ship into a long list of Nissan and INFINITI models sold around the world. That includes the Qashqai, LEAF, Navara, Patrol, X-Trail and Pathfinder along with the Kicks, Note, Murano, Skyline, Titan and INFINITI QX80, QX60 and QX50.

NCAP is also the only Nissan plant in the world producing core components for the latest 5-in-1 e-POWER hybrid system, a powertrain rolling out across the Qashqai and other models globally.

Nissan Oceania managing director Steve Milette said Australian Made Week was an opportunity to recognise the people behind the work.

"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," Milette said.

"The kangaroo motif proudly cast into many of the components over the years may be small, but it represents something much bigger, Australian craftsmanship contributing to global mobility every day."

It's a useful reminder that buying a Nissan often means buying a little bit of Melbourne too.

Frequently asked questions

What is Australian Made Week?

Australian Made Week is a national initiative celebrating locally produced goods and the businesses that manufacture them in Australia.

Where is the Nissan Casting Australia Plant?

The Nissan Casting Australia Plant is in Dandenong South, Victoria, and has been in operation since 1982.

Which Nissan models use Australian-made components?

Parts from the Melbourne plant are used in models including the Qashqai, LEAF, Navara, Patrol, X-Trail, Pathfinder and several INFINITI vehicles sold globally.