Production of the next-generation Nissan Kicks is being delayed, and this time it’s not because of any internal problems. Instead, Nissan and its plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico, have been the victims of a theft of important equipment involved in the manufacturing of their small crossover.
The tooling, which is used by the factory to make the parts that will eventually become a vehicle, is vitally important to the creation of the Kicks. Its loss could mean a delay of up to six months.
Sources did not reveal where or how the tooling was stolen, per Autonews, but its loss may push the start of production to the summer of 2024. That will mean a delayed launch for the redesigned Nissan Kicks in the U.S. and other markets.
Read: Mystery Nissan SUV Spied: Is It The Next Juke Or Kicks?
Although tooling theft is not unheard of, it is quite rare, a supplier consultant told the outlet. The parts can be stolen from trucks or trains, and given their importance to the manufacturing process, the deprivation is quite disruptive.
Experts say that even small losses of such equipment can derail the production of a vehicle. It also takes a long time to replace the tooling. Depending on how big Nissan’s part is, and how busy the tool shop is, it could take three to six months for a replacement to be produced.
This is the second delay for the next Nissan Kicks, which was originally supposed to go into production in December 2023. The same report adds that the small Nissan initially failed to pass crash safety tests, which pushed its production schedule back a month and a half. Now it is expected to be pushed back to June 2024.
Expected to grow in size and get AWD, the 2025MY Nissan Kicks will be boxier and more SUV-like, sources say. It may also get Nissan’s e-Power serial-hybrid technology in the U.S., which is already available in other markets.
