Nissan's Smyrna Plant Reaches Major Milestone in Tennessee

Nissan celebrates 25 years of making quality vehicles in Smyrna

SMYRNA, Tenn., June 16 -- Nissan North America's (NNA) vehicle assembly plant in Smyrna, Tenn., celebrated 25 years of building high quality vehicles at the award-winning facility today. Since the plant produced its first compact pickup truck in June 1983, more than 8.2 million vehicles have been built in Smyrna.

"Over the past 25 years, Nissan's Smyrna plant has placed its mark on this community, the southern United States, and the automotive industry," said Greg Daniels, senior vice president, U.S. Manufacturing, Nissan North America. "We are extremely proud of what we've accomplished over the past quarter of a century and are looking forward to the next 25 years."

Nissan was the first foreign automaker to bring vehicle assembly operations to the southern part of the United States. The Smyrna plant represents a total capital investment of $2.5 billion over the past 25 years.

Vehicles produced in Smyrna have won numerous awards including the 2002 Altima voted by U.S. and Canadian journalists as the "North American Car of the Year."

"Nissan's decision to begin manufacturing in Tennessee 25 years ago was a watershed event for our state and our nation," said Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen. "With Nissan's continued success and the passage of time, it's easy to forget what a bold, innovative move that decision was and how it transformed our state's economy. The launch of the Smyrna facility was literally the first step in an explosion of automotive manufacturing in the southeast U.S. and the impact of the Nissan team is still being felt today."

"After 25 years, Nissan's investment in Tennessee continues to reap benefits for our state each day," said Matt Kisber, commissioner, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. "From the thousands of good paying jobs to the additional employment provided by Nissan suppliers to the quality of the vehicles rolling off the assembly line, all of us in Tennessee are proud of Nissan's contributions to our state's economy."