Posted by Heidi Schwartz
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd along with Nissan North America officials announced the company will invest $160 million to build a new supplier park at their Smyrna vehicle assembly plant. The project will support more than 1,000 newly created supplier jobs.
Nissan’s Smyrna plant has been noted as being the most productive automotive manufacturing plant in North America as it produces almost 650,000 vehicles each year.
“Nissan and Tennessee have enjoyed a long and successful partnership, and this announcement is another significant milestone in our history together,” Haslam said. “The success of Tennessee’s automotive industry brings with it growth in supplier networks, and we want to thank Nissan for this new investment in Smyrna and our state.”
“This new investment in Smyrna represents another long-term commitment to the success of Nissan’s plant and boosts Tennessee’s overall global reputation as a top automotive manufacturer,” Boyd said. “Not only is Nissan investing in Tennessee by expanding its physical footprint in Smyrna, it is also investing in developing a strong workforce through its manufacturing training center, a big step toward sustaining future automotive demands. Nissan is a valuable part of Tennessee’s past and continues to write itself into our history. I appreciate the new jobs this facility will support and look forward to continued future growth.”
“This marks an exciting new chapter in our more than 31-year partnership with the State of Tennessee as we continue our localization and investment efforts in the United States,” José Muñoz, Executive Vice President, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Chairman, Management Committee, Nissan North America, Inc. said, “This project is a key component to the long-term sustainability of our U.S. business as we close in on a goal of 10 percent U.S. market share.”
Current plans for the project call for construction of an integrated logistics center that will be located on Nissan’s Smyrna campus and is more than 1.5 million square feet in size. The integrated logistics center will serve as an immediate space for suppliers and be used for multiple purposes supporting operations including inbound production parts and outbound returnable containers. The project will be delivered in phases beginning in late-2016, with project completion expected in late-2017.
The project will provide essential space to support the on-site suppliers necessary for continued growth, while further supporting Nissan’s overall strategy to bring more production to the United States. By the end of 2015, 85 percent of Nissan vehicles sold in the U.S. will be built in North America.
“We congratulate Nissan on its decision to build a new supplier park in Smyrna,” Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess said. “Nissan has had a huge positive presence within Rutherford County’s business landscape and we are excited to see the company continue to prosper.”
The Nissan Smyrna Plant began operations in 1983 and employs more than 8,400 people. In 2014, the Smyrna plant assembled more than 648,000 vehicles, making it the highest producing automotive assembly plant in North America.
