Japanese automaker Nissan's factory in South Africa now faces an uncertain future as the automaker grapples with financial strain, potential plant closures, and fierce competition in the accelerating green energy race.
The automotive giant announced plans last month to shut down seven plants and shed 20,000 jobs in its global workforce, as it suffers a financial crunch. Nissan South Africa has remained tight-lipped on how this plan will affect its operations.
"They are still obviously waiting for confirmation from their global principals. And they will obviously inform us once they are ready to be able to tell us what's happening. But obviously, I think it is absolutely clear that Nissan, globally, will be rationalizing its operations. And whether South Africa is going to be impacted directly or not, I think that jury is still out," said Mike Mabasa, CEO of the Association of Auto Manufacturers of South Africa.
Nissan has been part of South Africa's automotive landscape for over 60 years. First as an assembly plant in 1963, then going into full scale production in 1973, and has since seen many iconic brands roll off the production line.
Analysts believe the struggle has been a casualty of its own failures. Nissan took the lead in the electric vehicles with the Leaf, but has fallen behind its competitors.
"Not all the legacy automakers are joining the EV revolution, if I can call it that. And if they don't keep up with the changes, then they will lose out. I mean, they are all losing sales at the moment and the Chinese vehicle manufacturers that are really into this now are gaining ground. I mean, BYD is the biggest automotive manufacturer in the world now. And you would have never said that a few years back," said Carel Snyman, an independent automotive analyst.
The global automotive landscape is going through a rapid transformation as the green energy revolution takes shape. Experts said that while a possible closure will temporarily set the industry back, it could pave the way for new investment.
Japanese auto factory in S Africa faces possible closure amid operational challenges
Ice and snow activities have attracted more visitors across China during the three-day New Year holiday that began on Thursday, with destinations upgrading services and introducing new experiences to boost winter tourism and consumption.
At the Jizhou International Ski Resort in north China's Tianjin, visitor numbers have surged during the holiday. To accommodate demand, the resort has opened 11 ski runs, added new snow-making equipment, upgraded more than 5,000 sets of ski gear, and deployed over 200 professional instructors.
To meet visitors' needs, the resort also has offered two free public classes each day to help beginners master basic skills and safety knowledge. Shuttle bus services have been expanded between nearby hotels and the resort, providing seamless transportation for guests.
"There are shuttle buses from the hotel to the ski resort every 20 minutes, wich I think is a very good service," said Ma Xinping, a tourist.
Hotels in the surrounding area have also benefited from the rising popularity of ice-and-snow tourism.
"Hotel rooms were nearly fully booked during the holiday, and this year's revenue is expected to increase by more than 50 percent compared with previous years," said Zong Qinghe, general manager of the Tianjin Jizhou International Ski Resort.
Meanwhile, Huangshan City in east China's Anhui Province is also tapping into its winter tourism potential by rolling out new ice-and-snow-themed attractions.
At an ice-and-snow entertainment venue in the city's Changyuan Village, snowmaking machines have been operating continuously, creating a winter wonderland where children have been building snowmen, having snowball fights and enjoying snow slides amid laughter and excitement.
"I built a snowman and had a snowball fight here. I'm really happy," said Chen Xiaohan, a tourist.
According to Wang Fei, head of the venue, the whole place is divided into three main zones, including a photo-taking area, a snow-play area and a slide zone. She added that the attraction received nearly 30,000 visits in the first two days of the New Year holiday.
China's ice and snow tourism gains momentum during New Year holiday
