Nissan issued a press release this week stating that the company will launch the largest lithium-ion automotive battery plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. The plant will make battery components to help Nissan expand production of all-electric, zero-emission Leaf vehicles in 2013.
Since 2010, the company has delivered over 18,000 Leaf models to U.S. citizens alone, and 46,000 around the world. This makes the Leaf one of the best-selling and most successful all-electric vehicles released eve according to Nissan.
"Opening this U.S. plant is an important milestone in Nissan's overarching strategy to foster sustainable mobility around the world," said Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan Motors in a press release.
The first batch of batteries have already been manufactured at the plant, and are reportedly ready to receive their first charge before being placed inside vehicles. The new plant is predicted to produce nearly 200,000 batteries if the market calls for it.
The plant has already added 300 manufacturing jobs in the U.S. and if the demand for Leaf models goes up, over 1,000 new jobs could be created altogether.
By 2015, the company is planning on having 85 percent of all Nissan and Infiniti vehicles sold in the U.S. manufactured in plants located in the U.S according to the press release. They're also planning on releasing five new models within the next year or so.
"Nissan is the zero-emissions vehicle leader, and we are making significant strides as one of the largest producers of electric vehicles and batteries in the United States," said Ghosn in the release. "The opening of this facility in Tennessee supports our goal of making zero-emissions mobility a reality through American jobs and American manufacturing."
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