Nissan celebrates 30th anniversary of US manufacturing with creation of 900 jobs

In conjunction with the 30th anniversary of its Smyrna, Tenn. Vehicle Assembly Plant, Nissan is adding more than 900 manufacturing jobs to support future production of the Nissan Rogue, marking the first time the Rogue has been produced in the United States.

"Our investment creates hundreds of new jobs and underscores Nissan's longtime commitment to our employees and expanding operations around the country," said Senior Vice-President of Manufacturing Bill Krueger. "Our dedicated workforce in the United States continues to build high-quality vehicles, such as the Altima, Pathfinder and Leaf, which are driving growth with sales up a combined 70 per cent in May."

Throughout the last 30 years, the Nissan Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant has grown significantly and transformed from a domestic manufacturer to a global one. In just the last year, Smyrna has become home to the country's largest lithium-ion automotive battery plant supporting production of the all-electric, zero-emission 2013 Nissan Leaf, as well as a new paint plant that sets standards for energy efficiency.

"Today's announcement shows the strength of the company and is another milestone in the long success story of Nissan here in Tennessee," said Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. "I want to congratulate Nissan for their accomplishments over the last 30 years and the tremendous impact their success has had on the state's economy and the thousands of people they employ."

Beginning with the new Nissan Altima, and continuing this fall with the launch of an all-new Rogue, Nissan will launch five core-volume models in 15 months in the United States. Those launches will cover more than 75 per cent of showroom volume. The shift of Rogue production to the United States is part of Nissan's broader strategy to localize production. By 2015, Nissan aims to have 85 per cent of its products that are sold in the United States produced in North America. Nissan has seen US demand for the Rogue, expected to begin production in the fall of 2013, grow from just under 100,000 units in 2010 to 142,000 units in 2012. In May, Rogue sales reached an all-time high of 17,333 units.

Since the first US-assembled vehicle, a white pickup truck, rolled off the assembly line in June 1983, Nissan's manufacturing footprint has grown steadily.  The combination of vehicle assembly plants in Canton, Miss. and Smyrna, Tenn. and a powertrain plant in Decherd, Tenn. have produced more than 12-million vehicles and created more than 14,000 manufacturing jobs in the United States. Production at Nissan's Smyrna and Canton assembly plants grew by more than 14 per cent in 2012.

Posted in: 2013 Nissan Leaf,30th Anniversary,Altima,Assembly/Manufacturing Plant,Bill Haslam,Nissan,Nissan Rogue,North America,Pathfinder,Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant,United States