The industry that helped turn Japan into an economic juggernaut is undergoing its biggest change in years, with two of the country’s best-known carmakers looking to join forces.

Times are tough at Nissan and drastic measures need to be put in motion. The latest example is cutting production of two of the brand’s best-selling models. According to Automotive News , Nissan in April will eliminate one of two shifts at its Smyrna (Tennessee) and Canton (Mississippi) assembly plants,

Nissan announced Wednesday that it's cutting U.S. production lines and offering employees voluntary buyouts to avoid layoffs.

Nissan failed to mention exactly when the plants will return to two shifts. However, the Smyrna site will start to build a plug-in hybrid Rogue in 2027, and this will require a second shift. The Canton site will also go back to a two-shift schedule and handle the production of an EV, likely arriving in 2028.

Nissan will operate a single shift on one production line at each of its two U.S. facilities, located in Smyrna and Canton, Mississippi, according to Bloomberg. It expects to go back to a two-shift schedule when it introduces new vehicle models in 2027 and 2028. The production cuts impact the Rogue in Smyrna and the Altima in Canton.

Nissan plans to repair its flailing business without closing factories, according to people familiar with the matter, as it looks to streamline its finances before a capital tie-up with Honda.

The company is not planning for involuntary layoffs and is part of its initiative to cut down global costs by $2.6bn.

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This story incorporates reporting from ジャパンタイムズ, Bloomberg on MSN.com and The Associated Press - Business News on MSN.com.Nissan is set to implement significant job and output cuts at its U.S. vehicle assembly plants.