Nissan Creates More Than 800 New Tennessee Manufacturing Jobs

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Oct. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- During a luncheon today, alongside Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Nissan Americas Vice Chairman Bill Krueger announced the addition of 810 new Nissan manufacturing jobs in Tennessee in support of the company's aggressive growth and demand for its products in the marketplace. The new workforce will support a recently added third shift at the Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant: the first time the plant has had a third vehicle assembly shift in its nearly 30-year history.

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To remain competitive in the global economy, the State of Tennessee partnered with Nissan to identify and develop a workforce to meet the company's growing manufacturing needs. Nissan has now added over 2,000 manufacturing jobs in Tennessee since mid-2011.

"Our investment in creating hundreds of new jobs demonstrates Nissan's long-time commitment to our employees, Smyrna and the State of Tennessee," said Vice Chairman Bill Krueger. "The dedicated workforce in Tennessee continues to build high-quality vehicles that compete and win globally, and we're committed to ensuring this doesn't change."

The recent addition of a third vehicle assembly shift at the Smyrna plant is part of Nissan's strategy to localize core-model production. By 2015, Nissan aims to have 85 percent of all Nissan and Infiniti products that are sold in the United States produced in North America.

"Nissan and Tennessee have enjoyed a long and successful partnership for more than 30 years, and this announcement shows the strength of the company and the market demand for its products," Haslam said. "Nissan and our existing industries are very important to the state's economy and the citizens they employ, and I want to congratulate and thank Nissan on today's announcement and the new jobs it means for Tennessee."

Production at Nissan's Smyrna Plant began in June 1983. The vehicle assembly plant has an annual production capacity of 550,000 vehicles and represents a capital investment of $2.5 billion. The plant produces the Nissan Altima, Maxima, Pathfinder and Infiniti JX. In late 2012, Nissan will welcome production of the 100-percent electric Nissan LEAF and the batteries that power it, as well as the next-generation Nissan Rogue in 2013. With recent growth, employment at Nissan's Smyrna manufacturing facility exceeds 6,000 employees.

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.

SOURCE Nissan North America