By Nqobile Dludla

MAGALIESBERG, South Africa, July 10 (Reuters) - Nissan

Motor ( NSANF ) is still committed to growing in Africa, with

plans to introduce new SUVs and new variants of existing models,

its Africa president said on Thursday, even as speculation

swirls around the future of its South African plant.

New chief executive Ivan Espinosa unveiled sweeping cost

cuts in May that included plans to shed 15% of the global

workforce and close seven factories worldwide. Battered by

declining sales in the United States and China, Nissan ( NSANF ) faces a

mountain of debt repayment and is scrambling to upgrade its

ageing vehicle line-up.

In May, sources told Reuters that one of the closures being

considered was the Rosslyn plant in South Africa, where Nissan ( NSANF )

assembles its Navara pickup trucks.

Asked about the future of the 59-year-old plant, Nissan

Africa President Jordi Vila said: "We're committed to grow in

Africa and in South Africa, just to be more precise."

"The plant is probably still under study, but there's no

statement I can do today," Vila told reporters at the launch of

Nissan's ( NSANF ) Navara Stealth pickup truck.

The plan for South Africa includes introducing the Patrol

SUV along with two new SUV models next year. This year, Nissan ( NSANF )

launched a commercial panel-van variant of its Magnite compact

SUV to attract business clients, replacing its half-ton NP200

pickup.

On Thursday, it launched a new variant of its popular Navara

pickup truck, called the Stealth, valued from 695,200 rand

($39,200). The 4x4 is aimed at the mid-price range, where Nissan ( NSANF )

is seeing high demand.

Nissan's ( NSANF ) Navara models compete with Toyota's ( TM ) Hilux,

a top-selling pickup in South Africa, Ford's Ranger, and

Isuzu's ( ISUZF ) D-Max range.

South Africa has a huge market for pickup trucks, with

farmers needing off-road reliability, small business owners

looking for capable load-luggers and urbanites who love big

cars.

($1 = 17.7328 rand)