First All-New 2002 Nissan Altima Rolls Out of Tennessee Manufacturing Plant

              SMYRNA, Tenn., Aug. 1 Against a backdrop of cheering
employees, Nissan today rolled out the first 2002 Altima at its Smyrna, Tenn.,
manufacturing facility, signaling the company's arrival as a serious contender
in the four-million-unit mid-sized sedan segment.
    "This Altima writes a new chapter for Nissan sedans, and we believe it
will be a showstopper," said Dan Gaudette, senior vice president, U.S.
Manufacturing.  "We have a fully dedicated workforce here in Tennessee, and we
will build the Altima with the same attention to detail and quality that has
served us so well over the past 18 years."
    The new Altima features a choice of 4-cylinder or V6 power -- Nissan's
first V6 in this segment -- distinctive exterior design, sophisticated
drivetrain, performance-oriented suspension and increases in all major
dimensions.  The Altima's wheelbase has been increased 7.1 inches to
110.2 inches, overall length is up 5.7 inches to 191.5 inches, and the vehicle
is 1.3 inches wider for a total of 70.4 inches.  Inside, the new Altima
features 103.2 cubic feet, up 9.2 cubic feet from the previous generation.
    In June, the prestigious Harbour Report North America 2001 honored Nissan
by naming it the most efficient manufacturing nameplate in North America for
the seventh consecutive year.  In addition to the Altima, the Smyrna plant
also produces the Nissan Xterra sport-utility vehicle and the full line of
Nissan Frontier pickup trucks.
    The first Altima was built in Smyrna on June 11, 1992, and to date the
plant has produced 1,389,355 Altimas.
    Sales plans for the new Altima are ambitious.  Nissan plans to increase
the volume of Altima sales to approximately 190,000 units on an annual basis.
The new model will go on sale in September 2001 at more than 1,100 Nissan
dealers nationwide.
    In North America, Nissan's operations include styling, engineering,
manufacturing, sales consumer and corporate finance.  Nissan in North America
employs more than 20,000 people in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and
generates more than 70,000 jobs through more than 1,500 Nissan and Infiniti
dealerships across the continent.  More information about Nissan in North
America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found
on-line at http://www.nissandriven.com.