Production of the 2013 Nissan LEAF began this week at the Smyrna assembly plant in Tennessee, where some of the Japanese company's gasoline-powered models are also built.
At the same time, Nissan opened a new battery plant on an adjacent lot, becoming the first and only automaker to manufacture its own electric vehicle batteries. This facility is now the largest lithium-ion automotive battery plant in the U.S.
Adding the LEAF to Smyrna will help Nissan reach its goal of producing 85% of its U.S. sales volume in North America by 2015. By using more local resources, the company will prove less vulnerable to fluctuations in foreign currency.
At the same time, Nissan opened a new battery plant on an adjacent lot, becoming the first and only automaker to manufacture its own electric vehicle batteries. This facility is now the largest lithium-ion automotive battery plant in the U.S.
Adding the LEAF to Smyrna will help Nissan reach its goal of producing 85% of its U.S. sales volume in North America by 2015. By using more local resources, the company will prove less vulnerable to fluctuations in foreign currency.
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| Photo: Nissan |