Where are Nissans Made?

Headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, Nissan is an international corporation providing high-quality vehicles worldwide under the Nissan, Infiniti, and Datsun brands. Their cars, trucks, and SUVs are designed for the modern individual or family with particular attention to the newest safety and convenience features.

But where are Nissans actually made? You might be surprised to learn that over half of the new Nissan vehicles purchased in the US are made right here in America. US assembly plants provide the country with our favorite Nissan models and also support local economies. Let’s learn more about Nissan and its manufacturing facilities.

The History of Nissan

Like many prestigious automakers, Nissan has a long and interesting history. The Kaishinsha Motor Car Works was formed in 1911 by founder Masujiro Hashimoto in Japan. Kaishinsha manufactured its first vehicles in 1914, but it wasn’t until 1935 that its first assembly plant was opened in Yokohama. This site of the original manufacturing plant is now the company’s headquarters. You can tour this location to learn more about the history of the company.

But where did the name “Nissan” come from? In 1928, the Nihon-Sangyo holding company was formed that eventually owned Kaishinsha Motor Car Works. The Nissan name is a combination of NIhon-SANgyo. You may remember that the first Nissan vehicles sold in the US were branded under the name Datsun. The Datsun title is another combination of important names. “DAT” is formed by the initials of the investors’ surnames. They viewed the cars they created as their sons, hence Datson. The spelling was later adjusted to Datsun.

Nissan Models Made in the US

While the Nissan company has undergone some significant changes over the last 100+ years, what has been constant since 1983 is their dedication to the US economy with American-based assembly plants. It all started in Tennessee and has since grown to a combined production of over 1 million vehicles assembled in America every year.

Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant

The assembly plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, was the first to open back in 1983. Since then, over 10 million Nissan vehicles have rolled off the line. The 6-million-square-foot facility employs over 6,700 workers. While Nissan was the first to open up manufacturing here, several other auto companies have opened in the area since then, which has had a significant impact on the local economy. Five Nissan models and one Infiniti model are assembled at the Smyrna Nissan Assembly Plant.

• Nissan LEAF
• Nissan Maxima
• Nissan Murano
• Nissan Pathfinder
• Nissan Rogue
• Infiniti QX60

Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant

Whether directly or indirectly, the Nissan assembly plant in Canton, Mississippi, has contributed to the state’s economy by creating more than 25,000 jobs. Over half of the management at this plant comprises minorities, which earned it a designation as a noteworthy company in 2018 by Diversity, Inc. The 4.7-million-square-foot facility began by producing vehicles solely for the domestic market and has since grown to produce Nissan vehicles for the global market as well. Five models are assembled here, including both Nissan trucks.

• Nissan Altima
• Nissan Murano
• Nissan NV
• Nissan Frontier
• Nissan Titan (and Titan XD)

The Powertrain Assembly Plant

Nissan focuses much of its production of engines at their Powertrain Assembly Plant in Decherd, Tennessee. Capable of producing 1.4 million engines annually, this 1.1-million-square-feet facility opened in 1997. In addition to traditional engine manufacturing, the Powertrain Assembly Plant also manufactures those for the all-electric Nissan LEAF.

• 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder (Altima, Rogue)
• 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder SC (Pathfinder, Murano, QX60)
• 3.5-liter, 6-cylinder (Frontier, NV, Patrol)
• 5.6-liter, 8-cylinder (Titan, NV)
• eMotor (LEAF)

Japanese Manufacturing Plants

Many Nissans are still produced in Japan. Vehicles produced in Japan for sale in the US are imported through customs and made available at your local dealerships, even if custom ordered to your specifications. Several assembly plants in the country manufacture vehicles for their own domestic market as well as for international sales.

The high-end 370Z and GT-R are produced at the Tochigi Plant in Kaminokawa, Tochigi. These vehicles require the highly skilled engineers and technicians there to create these top-of-the-line sports cars. Also in Japan is the Shatai Kyushu Plant in Yukuhashi, Fukoka, where the crossover SUVs Rogue and Murano are assembled. More entry-level vehicles like the Versa and Cube, along with the sporty 350Z, are produced at the Oppama Plant in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa.

Nissan Manufacturing in Mexico

Nissan also has two assembly plant locations in Mexico. Cuernavaca Assembly in Jiutepec focuses exclusively on the NV200, Nissan’s compact cargo van. Nissan Aguascalientes in Aguascalientes, Mexico, has a more diversified lineup with the Sentra, both the Versa and Versa Note, the NV, and the Micra. The Micra, also called the March, is a supermini car not available in the US but marketed in much of Asia, Canada, Australia, the UK, and Mexico.

Energy Star Partner of the Year

In April of 2021, the EPA named Nissan an Energy Star Partner of the Year for the coveted Sustained Excellence award. They’ve earned this award 10 years in a row for their efforts to protect our environment through innovative and more effective facilities. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and by better managing the energy used at its plants, Nissan is at the forefront of energy-efficient manufacturing. Through new technology, Nissan hopes to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

Your New Nissan: Quality Made

No matter where your new Nissan car, truck, or SUV is manufactured, you’ll enjoy the high-quality assembly, beautiful design, and thoughtful attention to detail present in all of Nissan’s vehicles. Plus, you can rest easy knowing that your purchase helps to support local economies in both Tennessee and Mississippi right here in the US.

Contact Rydell Nissan of Grand Forks

Our friendly and experienced staff is always ready to give you a tour of our showroom. We’d love to show you the truly beautiful craftsmanship of Nissan’s assembly plants in America, Japan, and Mexico. Rydell Nissan of Grand Forks boasts a large inventory of Nissan vehicles. Contact us to schedule a test drive, and speed up the process of stepping into your new or used Rydell vehicle with our online financing application.

Tags: Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant, Japanese Manufacturing Plants, Mexican Manufacturing Plants, Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant, The Powertrain Assembly Plant
Posted in Nissan Dealer FAQs | Comments Off on Where are Nissans Made?