Nissan moves Murano production from Japan to Mississippi

Drive On
Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY5:45p.m. EST January 10, 2013


Sharon Connerly, a quality technician with Nissan, inspects a newly-assembled Armada in this 2005 file photo at Nissan's Canton, Miss., plant(Photo: ROGELIO SOLIS AP)

Nissan just gave a huge gift to its Mississippi auto workers today, announcing that it's moving production of the next-generation Murano crossover to its Canton, Miss., facility. The fashion-forward family hauler is currently made in Japan.

With Honda having disclosed the new Accord Hybrid will be made in Ohio, they are signs that America is becoming more competitive compared to manufacturing in other countries.

In addition to the Murano announcement, Nissan began regular production today on the Leaf electric car in Smryna, Tenn.

It also had been made in Japan.

Nissan says the Canton plant is celebrating its 10th year, having gone from making one model to seven. They include Altima, Armada, Xterra, Titan, Sentra, Frontier and the NV big vans, both the passenger and commercial version. Murano will be the eighth.

"It's become clear throughout the Nissan network that 'Made in Mississippi' is a stamp of quality and great people," said Bill Krueger, vice chairman of Nissan Americas, in a statement.

Nissan wants to make 85% its U.S. vehicles in the U.S.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/driveon/2013/01/10/nissan-murano-canton-mississippi/1824127/