Nissan ended Patrol production at Barcelona’s Zona Franca plant in 2001, after more than 200,000 units had been built there. The Spanish production run began in 1983. The Patrol became the first Nissan model manufactured in Spain and the first Nissan built in Europe. It ran for 18 years at the Barcelona plant.
The change followed Nissan’s entry into the shareholding of Motor Ibérica, the former Ebro. Production continued for nearly two decades, giving the Patrol a place in Spain’s automotive industry beyond its Japanese origins. The Barcelona-built 160 series was based on the third-generation Patrol, introduced in 1980 with five- and seven-seat configurations. It retained four-wheel drive while extending the model’s appeal beyond basic utility use.
The Patrol’s manufacturing history is distinct from today’s registration sequence: DGT data dated 3 November 2026 put the latest series at NTX, as covered in this registration update.
Zona Franca built the 160 and 260 series before moving on to the Patrol GR. The GR was the last version to leave the Spanish factory. The earlier models used leaf-spring suspension and initially a Perkins diesel engine; later versions received more efficient four- and six-cylinder turbodiesels. The GR Y60, the fourth generation, was produced from 1987 to 1997 and introduced coil-spring suspension.
The GR earned the nickname “the beast” and was produced at the plant during the 1990s. Its engine and suspension set-up helped establish its reputation as a capable off-road vehicle, as did its four-wheel-drive system. In 1987, the Spanish-prepared “Fanta Limón” Patrol finished ninth overall in the Paris-Dakar Rally, becoming the first diesel vehicle to finish in the event’s top ten.
The Patrol became a familiar working vehicle across Spain. It served with the Guardia Civil rural and the Ejército español, while local police forces and the Policía Nacional also used it. Farms and livestock holdings had their own examples, often driven by the owner. The Patrol’s popularity across Spain was reflected in the 1988 market: it accounted for 52% of the country’s 4x4 segment.
After the Patrol line stopped, the factory moved on to models including the Terrano II and Pathfinder. The Zona Franca plant later closed in 2021 before reopening under Ebro. Ebro vehicles are now made at the former Nissan site, with an initial workforce of more than 1,500 employees. Manufacturing processes are set to be localized progressively.
