Nissan to increase production at US plant
November 12, 2012
Nissan Motor Co. has announced it will add a third shift at a vehicle assembly plant in Tennessee, USA, adding more than 800 jobs.
“Nissan and Tennessee have enjoyed a long and successful partnership, and this announcement shows the strength of the company and the market demand for its products,” stated US Governor Bill Haslam during an economic development conference. Haslam added that it’s the first time the plant will operate on three shifts.
The staffing for the expanded work hours bring the total new Nissan jobs in the state to more than 2,000 since the middle of last year. About 5,600 people currently work at the Smyrna plant that first began production in 1983.
Production of the all-electric Leaf is set to begin at the plant in December, while assembly of the Rogue is set to come to Smyrna next year. That will mark the first time the small SUV is made in the United States.
“The third shift plays an important role in Nissan’s plan to make cars where we sell them,” stated Nissan Americas Vice Chairman Bill Krueger. “By 2015, 85% of Nissan vehicles sold in the U.S. will be built here in North America.”
Nissan also has a U.S. plant in Canton, Miss., and recently announced an expansion of its engine plant in Decherd, Tenn.
In other announcements affecting the US automotive sector, General Motors stated in August that it will add around 500 jobs to make its new Ecotek at its Spring Hill plant. Volkswagen AG also announced in July it would boost production at its Chattanooga plant by 30,000 cars in 2013, adding some 1,000 new workers.
Posted by: Paul Whittaker, Editor ipmd.net, [email protected]
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