TOKYO, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Japan's Nissan Motor ( NSANF )

is offering buyouts to workers and cutting back shifts at three

U.S. factories, a company spokesperson said on Thursday, as the

automaker pushes to slash $2.6 in costs globally.

Nissan ( NSANF ) will offer the separation packages to workers at its

vehicle assembly plants in Smyrna, Tennessee, and Canton,

Mississippi, and an engine plant in Decherd, Tennessee.

Japan's third-biggest automaker by volume will slash one of

two shifts at the production line for its Rogue sports utility

vehicle in Smyrna starting in April, and for the Altima sedan in

Canton from September.

In addition to Smyrna, Nissan ( NSANF ) also produces Rogues at its

Kyushu factory in southwest Japan, its top plant in its home

market. Reuters previously reported Nissan ( NSANF ) was cutting output by

a third in August 2024 at that plant amid weak U.S. demand for

some of its ageing line-up, including the Rogue.

Nissan's ( NSANF ) spokesperson declined to say how many U.S. workers

it hopes will take the voluntary buyout offer. The company could

potentially cut up to around 1,500 jobs with the move, the

Nikkei newspaper reported earlier on Thursday.

Nissan ( NSANF ) does not plan to conduct involuntary layoffs, the

spokesperson said, adding that the company employed more than

11,700 workers at the three U.S. plants as of end-2024.

In November, the company announced a plan to cut 9,000 jobs

worldwide and reduce the maximum capacity of its 25 vehicle

production lines as it suffers from a sales slump in China and

North America.

Less than two months after the company unveiled that plan,

Nissan ( NSANF ) and Honda Motor ( HMC ) said they would start talks on a

merger that could potentially create the world's third-largest

auto group with annual output of 7.4 million vehicles.