News

Nissan will build electric vehicles in Tennessee

Feb 8, 2010 – Nissan North America, Inc., has announced that it will produce advanced technology, zero-emission, fully electric vehicles (EVs) at its Smyrna, Tenn., location.

The company will not only build the Nissan LEAF at its modified Smyrna plant, it will also construct a 1.3 million-square-foot facility to produce the lithium-ion batteries that will power the vehicles. The new operation will require a capital investment of over $812 million and create 1,300-plus new jobs within three years at the plant.

Nissan received a loan through the federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to fund the project. The loan program is designed to accelerate the development of vehicles and technologies that increase U.S. energy independence, create cleaner means of transportation and stimulate the American economy.

Economic development partners on the project included the Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Development Board of Rutherford County, Department of Energy, and TVA.

Read the Nissan press release.