‘So long’ to the Nissan NP300 range
The time has come to bid farewell to the seemingly unstoppable Nissan NP300 Hardbody workhorse and Hi-Rider range. Nissan South Africa has confirmed that they are phasing out the legendary bakkie with production to cease in November 2021. The good news is that the Rosslyn factory is ramping up for the face-lifted Nissan Navara SC as a replacement.
The History Of The Nissan Hardbody NP300
The Hardbody name has a rich history in South Africa with Nissan LCVs starting as far back as 1960 when the Datsun Motor Vehicle Distributors imported 38 one-ton LDV bakkies. Produced locally at the Rosslyn factory, the first Nissan bakkie wearing the Hardbody badge was introduced in 1988.
It featured in the South African market for 11 years where they introduced the modern-day Nissan Hardbody which received a facelift in 2002. At this time, it had new diesel powertrains and got the name we are all familiar with today in 2007, namely the Nissan NP300 Hardbody.
A Stalwart In South Africa For Decades
The Nissan manufacturing facility in Rosslyn contributed greatly by creating jobs and strengthening the South African economy. There’s no denying the Nissan NP300 Hardbody is a testament to the strength and prowess of the Nissan badge.
The motto “Proud Heritage. Proven Capability” is confirmed by the significant amount of sales across more than 35 Sub-Saharan African countries and other markets such as the UAE, Russia, Ukraine and Lebanon. The Nissan NP300 Hardbody forms part of the largest LCV line-up of commercial vehicles ever in South Africa.
The wide selection made the Nissan NP300 Hardbody a popular choice for many. Whether it was the workhorse easing the burden of the daily grind or the Hi-Rider for leisure travellers, the Nissan NP300 Hardbody always got the job done in style.
The current Nissan NP300 Hardbody range consists of nine derivatives with prices ranging from R309 500 for the entry-level single-cab to R544 000 for the 2,4-litre double-cab 4×4 flagship. Here’s a closer look at all the different Nissan Hardbody bakkies.
Nissan NP300 Hardbody Accolades
Not many car manufacturers have had the kind of success across so many facets as the Nissan NP300 Hardbody. From substantial sales to a host of motorsport accolades, the Hardbody badge has impressed for a long time and is something to be proud of.
Being a Nissan’s all-rounder is an understatement as the Hardbody has seen an incredible amount of success in motorsport and none more prolific than the gruelling Dakar Rally. It performed admirably in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 with a locally-built Hardbody racer winning five stages.
Then there were many SA Off-road Championship accolades and wins between 2001 and 2005. This contributed to Nissan’s 57 victories from 72 events which included winning the overall Championship between 2001 and 2009.
Why Are They Discontinuing The Nissan NP300 Hardbody?
In 2019, the head at Nissan Group of Africa confirmed that the local arm of the Japanese firm had no plans to discontinue the NP300 and that there would be room for both the Navara and the NP300. However, with the success of the Navara and the continued production of the Nissan NP200, the decision to stop production was made.
The Nissan NP300 hardbody has served the Japanese automaker and South Africa exceptionally well. Who can forget the famous tagline of “African built, African tough”?
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