Nissan Canton Prepares To Celebrate 10 Years Of Manufacturing In Mississippi

CANTON, Miss., Dec. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With more than 2 million vehicles produced, nearly $2 billion in payroll generated and a decade after the first vehicle rolled off the line in Mississippi, the Nissan Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant is preparing to celebrate its 10^th anniversary in 2013. The company will commemorate the anniversary with a series of events that highlight the accomplishments of its more than 5,000 employees and underscore its commitment to the Metro Jackson community and Central Mississippi.

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Over the past decade, Nissan's Canton plant has grown from building one model to seven, including the award-winning Altima, the Armada full-size SUV, the Xterra mid-size SUV, the Titan and Frontier pickup trucks and NV commercial and passenger vans. When the plant opened in 2003, Nissan became the largest private-sector employer in the region and has since brought even more high-skilled, well-paying jobs to the community while maintaining a diverse workforce that has drawn employees from 80 of Mississippi's 82 counties.

Dan Bednarzyk, vice president and plant manager at the Nissan Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant, attributes Nissan's success to the tremendous efforts of the workforce, including suppliers, as well as the support of Central Mississippi.

"I'm often asked about our plant in Canton, and I always have to start by talking about our employees, the heart and soul of our plant." Bednarzyk said. "Our team members are our strength. Their spirit and extraordinary work ethic are the reasons we have been able to consistently earn additional investment that has continued to create jobs. We have to be competitive on a global level to earn work here in Mississippi. I am confident that we have more to look forward to in the future."

In 2012, the Canton team began producing additional vehicles in the Nissan fleet including Xterra and Frontier. In fact, Nissan Canton has become a center of expertise for body-on-frame trucks and will expand their talents to bring the remodeled Sentra compact cars on line in 2013. This additional production will help Nissan move toward its goal of building 85 percent of the vehicles sold in the United States in the Americas by 2015.

Nissan Canton continues to have a positive economic impact on local businesses and communities throughout the region. Since 2003, Nissan has contributed more than $5 million to a wide range of community-based organizations supporting the areas of education, diversity, humanitarian aid and the environment. Employees have donated an additional $2 million through workplace giving and have performed countless hours of volunteer service including mentoring students in area schools and building homes in the Jackson and Canton communities with Habitat for Humanity.   

Additional announcements for Nissan Canton's 10^th Anniversary activities will be released in the weeks ahead. For more information on the plant, its people and opportunities to visit the facility, please see the company's local website at www.nissan-canton.com.

About Nissan
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 248,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4.8 million vehicles in 2011, generating revenue of 9.4 trillion yen ($118.95 billion US). With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of 64 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero-emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades, including the prestigious 2011-2012 Car of the Year Japan and 2011 World Car of the Year awards.

About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, and 2012 by the U.S

Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com, or visit the Americas media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.

For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.

SOURCE Nissan North America