The story began on June 16, 1983, when Nissan produced its first vehicle in the United States, a white 720 pickup truck, at the Smyrna assembly line. This marked the beginning of automotive manufacturing in Tennessee and set the stage for Nissan’s expansion in the country.
Over the years, Nissan established a powertrain plant in Decherd, Tennessee in 1997 and a vehicle assembly plant in Canton, Mississippi in 2003. Together, these facilities have proudly manufactured close to 20 million vehicles and 13 million engines, catering to customers worldwide.
Nissan Americas Chairperson, Jérémie Papin, acknowledged the significance of this milestone, stating that what started with a single pickup truck has evolved into four decades of manufacturing excellence. He emphasized that this achievement goes beyond the products built and sold; it is also a tribute to the dedication of Nissan’s 21,000 U.S. employees. These employees will lead Nissan into the future, particularly the electrified future, as they continue to enhance products and services for customers.
Recognizing the shift towards connected and electric vehicles, Nissan is actively supporting this transition by constructing future-oriented factories as part of their long-term vision, Nissan Ambition 2030. The company plans to introduce 27 electrified models globally, including 19 all-electric vehicles, by 2030.
In line with this vision, Nissan announced a $500 million investment in 2022 to transform its Canton, Mississippi facility into a hub for U.S. electric vehicle production. This investment is just one of several planned by the company in the United States over the next five years, as they strive to achieve their target of making 40% of U.S. vehicle sales fully electric by 2030.
