Autoblog

Nissan moving next-gen Murano production from Japan to Mississippi

Jeffrey N. Ross — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Nissan

Celebrating 10 years of operation at its Canton, Mississippi assembly plant, Nissan has announced that it will be adding a seventh vehicle to the plant's portfolio. Starting in 2014, production of the next-generation Murano will move from Japan to Mississippi alongside its platform mate, the Altima, which is a part of Nissan's plan to build 85 percent of its US products domestically.

In addition to the Altima, the Canton facility also produces the Armada, Xterra, Titan, Frontier and NV vans, and back in June, production of the Nissan Sentra production was moved to Canton creating an extra 1,000 jobs. At this point, there is no indication about how many jobs the Murano line will add, if any.

This is the second announcement this week of production being added in the US as Honda said that the Accord Hybrid production would move to Marysville, Ohio where the standard Accord sedan is currently built.

The new Murano will be inspired by the Resonance Concept, which was teased in the image above earlier this week and will debut next week at the Detroit Auto Show.

Scroll down for Nissan's official statement on the Murano's production.

Continue reading Nissan moving next-gen Murano production from Japan to Mississippi

Nissan moving next-gen Murano production from Japan to Mississippi originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mississippi tops Automotive Misery Index

Zach Bowman — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Honda

Anyone who's ever laid claim to a set of keys can tell you car ownership is an expensive proposition, but according to CarInsurance.com, just how expensive can fluctuate significantly depending on where you call home. The site released a new study called "The Automotive Misery Index," which looks at each state's average household income compared to factors like the cost of fuel, the number of miles driven and the cost of full insurance coverage for a 2012 Honda Accord EX. Surprisingly enough, Mississippi ranked as the state with the highest misery index, thanks in part to low average household income, high average mileage and very expensive insurance.

Five states with the highest misery index:

Mississippi
Oklahoma
Louisiana
West Virginia
Montana

Five states with the lowest misery index:

New Hampshire
Alaska
Connecticut
Colorado
Washington

You can check out the full top 10 list by checking out the press release below.

Continue reading Mississippi tops Automotive Misery Index

Mississippi tops Automotive Misery Index originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nissan: 85% of vehicles to be built in North America by 2015

Chris Tutor — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Nissan

Nissan is determined to grab eight percent of global market share by 2016, and is investing heavily in its North American facilities to make that happen. After a $5.2 billion cash infusion, Nissan will grow by 9,000 jobs, expand capacity by 425,000 vehicles and 200,000 lithium-ion batteries.

With its existing NA plants, Nissan already produces all its core models here. But by 2015, the company plans to build at its North American plants 85% of all Nissan and Infiniti models sold in the U.S. Nissan's Smyrna, Tenn. plant will soon add the Leaf and Rogue to its lineup and the Canton, Miss. plant will add the Sentra to its truck production. To pull off that expanded lineup, Canton will get 1,000 new jobs boosting its payroll to 4,500 workers.

Nissan also has an engine plant in Decherd, Tenn., which will add 90 jobs this year and up to 400 new jobs eventually, to help build electric motors for the Leaf as well as Daimler.

In Mexico, Nissan plans to spend $2 billion to add a third plant with 3,000 workers making 175,000 subcompacts by late next year.

Finally, Nissan's Farmington Hills, Mich. research group will get 150 new co-workers for vehicle engineering and development.

Nissan: 85% of vehicles to be built in North America by 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nissan cranking up Canton output to accommodate 2013 Sentra [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Nissan

Nissan has announced that it will build the 2013 Sentra at its Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant in Canton, Mississippi. The Japanese automaker had already committed to moving both its Frontier and Xterra SUVs to Mississippi from Nissan's plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. The manufacturer says it will hire 1,000 workers to keep pace with the three new models in the Canton plant, pushing the facility's total workforce to 4,500. The location also builds the 2013 Altima, Armada, Titan and NV commercial trucks. Sentra production is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.

Nissan will also build the 2013 Sentra at its Aguascalientes, Mexico plant, where the company builds the current sedan. The company says the two-front approach will allow it to produce more Sentra models than before in order to better keep up with demand. Scroll down to read the official press release and to watch a Nissan-produced faux news report.

Continue reading Nissan cranking up Canton output to accommodate 2013 Sentra [w/video]

Nissan cranking up Canton output to accommodate 2013 Sentra [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nissan's Mississippi plant is chief UAW target

Chris Tutor — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Nissan, UAW/Unions

Historically, automotive plants in the South have been impervious to efforts by organization drives by the United Auto Workers. In 2001, the UAW was rejected two-to-one by Nissan workers at its Smyrna, Tenn. plant. And in 2005 and 2007, the UAW failed to get enough interest at Nissan's plant in Canton, Miss.

But the UAW is reportedly ready to give it a go again in Canton. Union officials say the group has been discussing the possibility with workers there, and reactions are not all positive. UAW President Bob King says Nissan officials have been actively trying to dissuade its Canton employees from cooperating with the union by using scare tactics.

"Fear and intimidation should not be part of the equation when workers are deciding whether they want to be represented by the union," King is quoted saying in the Reuters article. "Workers should be able to hear equally from both sides and make a decision for themselves."

In Nissan's defense, a company spokesman says the accusations of intimidation are not true.

If it is to succeed in Canton, the UAW will need to win over the workers, but to do so, it will likely have to overcome Nissan's apparent objections as well as the anti-union attitudes of politicians. Miss. Gov. Ken Bryant has in the past said "he would step in if the UAW tried to organize a plant in the state," Reuters reports.

Nissan's Canton plant builds five models, including the 2013 Altima, which has just entered production last week.

Nissan's Mississippi plant is chief UAW target originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Why you should call 911 if you get pulled over in Mississippi [w/video]

Jeff Sabatini — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Videos

It sounds like an urban legend: A serial killer posing as a police officer pulling over motorists and then murdering them in their vehicles on the side of the highway. But this is no hoax, as the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is on the hunt for a suspect after discovering two such victims, according to CNN.

The shootings both took place last week, on two separate roadways some 55 miles apart, according to the report. Police say the victims were not acquainted.

Authorities in Mississippi are advising motorists to be cautious if they're pulled over, and to call 911 to verify that the police officer is legitimate. Pulling over into a well-lit, well-populated area is also advised. Scroll down to watch CNN's report on the Mississippi killings.

Continue reading Why you should call 911 if you get pulled over in Mississippi [w/video]

Why you should call 911 if you get pulled over in Mississippi [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2012 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nissan donates cash, offers employee pricing and delayed payments to Southern storm victims

Aaron Richardson — Sun, 22 May 2011 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Nissan

Nissan Americas is offering employee pricing and delayed finance payments to victims of the recent tornadoes and floods across the southeastern U.S. The latest gesture comes after the company donated $115,000 to the Red Cross to help with the relief efforts.

Qualified buyers, meaning those from the southeast who were left without a mode of transportation after the storms, will be offered Nissans at a price normally reserved for company workers and their immediate families. To be eligible for the program, you have to live in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi or Alabama and be able to provide proof of damage to your primary vehicle. Check out Nissan's full press release after the jump.

Continue reading Nissan donates cash, offers employee pricing and delayed payments to Southern storm victims

Nissan donates cash, offers employee pricing and delayed payments to Southern storm victims originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 May 2011 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Mississippi under fire for considering KKK leader and Confederate hero on license plate

Zach Bowman — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has come under fire for failing to condemn efforts by the state's Sons of Confederate Veterans to institute a license plate commemorating Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Historically, Forrest has been both hailed for his military brilliance and condemned for his brutality both during and after the Civil War. The general infamously slaughtered black Union troops that surrendered at Fort Pillow Tennessee in 1864 and became a Grand Wizard in the KKK after the war ended.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans, meanwhile, say that the license plate is meant to commemorate those who lost their lives in the war and that a number of black soldiers served under the general during his command.

Those words apparently aren't doing much to console members of the NAACP, however, who argue that Forrest should be counted among terrorists like Osama bin Laden for his heavy involvement in the KKK.

Mississippi currently offers a license plate to commemorate the Civil War, and funds from those plates go toward maintaining the state's collection of Confederate battle flags and restoring Beauvoir - the final home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. The current plate features the estate, while future designs include everything from the Battle of Corinth to the Siege of Vicksburg. The Forrest commemorative license plate is slated to debut in 2014.

Governor Barbour, meanwhile, says that he isn't interest in denouncing people or the license plate proposal, even though he feels there's little chance of the plate making its way into production.

[Sources: The Commercial Appeal, The New York Daily News, Politico]

Report: Mississippi under fire for considering KKK leader and Confederate hero on license plate originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nissan NV commercial truck production gets underway

Jeff Glucker — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Truck, Plants/Manufacturing, Work, Nissan

Nissan NV work trucks - Click above for high-res image gallery

Nissan has kicked off production of its all-new 2012 NV commercial truck. Scheduled to go on sale this spring, the NV will be available in three variants; NV1500, NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD. Two different configurations will also be offered: a standard roof or high roof that offers more interior work and/or cargo space.

Power comes from a choice of familiar six or eight-cylinder engines. The 4.0-liter V6 produces 261 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque while the 5.6-liter V8 delivers 317 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque. Both engines drive the rear wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission.

Body-on-frame construction should help the NV go a long way in the rugged work truck category. Inside, a few trick features will help further set it apart from competitors like the Ford Transit Connect. The passenger seat folds flat to offer up its backside as a workspace. The large, lockable center console offers plenty of storage and 120V outlets are installed front and rear.

The 2012 Nissan NV starts at an MSRP of $24,950. Once the NV configurator comes online, we (and tradesmen in need of a new ride) should be able to elevate that sticker price significantly.

Gallery: 2011 Nissan NV

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan NV commercial truck production gets underway

Nissan NV commercial truck production gets underway originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Jan 2011 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Laughing (Gas) Matter: Mississippi becomes 39th state to ban nitrous in street cars?

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Government/Legal

Granted, we're a little weird around here, but we've been dreaming of a multi-stage nitrous system since the sixth grade. We saw our friend's big brother lay down some fat rubber marks all around the cul-de-sac in his primer'd and blown '72 El Camino and BAM!, we were sold on the idea that increasing the air part of the air/fuel equation was the smart, righteous thing to do.

Sadly, nitrous ain't all that legal in most places. Mississippi was one of the dozen remaining hold outs until some idiots in a blown car decided to take some police on a high speed chase that ended in the death of Trooper Steve Hood. As such, NOS is now illegal in Mississippi street cars, and is the 39th state to pass such a law.

As far as the specifics go, no one's sure exactly how the law is written. We know (for instance) that in California you can have a nitrous oxide system in your car and the bottle can even be hooked up, however said bottle must be 100% empty. In other states you're not allowed to have the bottle screwed in. Still, in others, a NOS system is illegal period.

Our pals at Bangshift.com (who know a whole heck of a lot more about this subject than we do ) are telling Mississippi residents, "Seeing as though this is a law fresh in the minds of law enforcement and represents an emotional event for the Mississippi State Troopers, we'd stow our bottle well away from the mount when headed to the race track." Sage advice, and much wiser than our hide-a-NOS-system in a fake battery ala Smokey Yunick suggestion.

[Source: Bangshift]

No Laughing (Gas) Matter: Mississippi becomes 39th state to ban nitrous in street cars? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: Private Chinese investors sought to fund $6 billion auto plant in Mississippi

Chris Tutor — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, China, Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, Electric

Hybrid Kinetic Automotive Corp. rendering - click above to enlarge

The headline is attention-grabbing. A former Chinese auto executive is proposing a $6 billion plant in economically-distressed north Mississippi that will employ 25,000 people and produce one million cars a year.

Automotive News' story is both intriguing and complicated - and not just because three players are named Wang, one is named Yang - so buckle up for the short-and-sweet Autoblog version.

Yang Rong was once China's third-richest man as the CEO of Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd. But after some disagreements with a Chinese government official in 2002, Yang fled the country and settled in Los Angeles.

Cars are only one of the reasons Yang wants to build $6.5 billion plant in Mississippi (that's six times the cost of Toyota's Mississippi plant, by the way). Another is green cards. When Yang left China, he also left his fortune and has apparently been unable to recoup any of it. It's a scary scenario that many wealthy Chinese fear: upset the government, lose your money. But the U.S. government makes it easy for Chinese residents to both invest their cash in America, as well as move here. Invest a minimum of $500,000 in an economically distressed region of the U.S., creating at least 10 jobs, and you get permanent resident status.

Vincent Wang, an associate of Yang's, says Italdesign Giugiaro is designing the new venture's cars, and documents show Porsche AG providing "our car's engineering design." Giugiaro confirms it has talked with the group, Porsche essentially says it has no comment. Such a controversial car must be powered by something just as unusual, right? Oh, yeah. The CEO of the project, C.T. Wang, tells Automotive News, the cars will be "powered by a combination of gasoline, electric, hybrid and compressed-natural-gas powertrains."

Yang calls his project, Hybrid Kinetic Automotive Holdings, Ltd. One of Yang's former associates has split from the group and also plans to build an automotive plant. That company is now called GreenTree Automotive, after being forced to change its name from Hybrid Kinetic Automotive Corp. Yeah. 'Cause that would have just been too confusing.

And where in Mississippi would someone go to gamble $6.5 billion on an automotive plant? Tunica County, of course. Home to nine of the Hospitality State's approximately 30 casinos.

[Source: Automotive News - subs. req.]

REPORT: Private Chinese investors sought to fund $6 billion auto plant in Mississippi originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toyota delays U.S. crossover plant

Michael Harley — Tue, 13 May 2008 16:32:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing

Sluggish market conditions in the United States are the reason Toyota Motor Corp. is slowing down the launch of its new Highlander crossover plant in Tupelo, Mississippi. Originally scheduled to open in late 2009 with production at 150,000 vehicles per year, Toyota will instead begin production in May 2010 with an expected reduced annual output of 120,000 units a year. Of course, that number will increase if U.S. market conditions improve.

While the slowing economy is a leading reason for the delay, Toyota officials also confirmed that they are facing difficulty hiring skilled labor for the Tupelo project. They are now recruiting from around the country to fill positions in maintenance, along with tool and die engineers. Toyota expects to employ 2,000 workers at Tupelo. This isn't the first time Toyota has faced recruiting issues. When they opened San Antonio in 2004 and 2005, they found themselves challenged to staff the Tundra pickup plant. The Texas plant recently made headlines when Toyota slowed production of the Tundra. For the fiscal year, Toyota is forecasting operating profits to decline by 29-percent.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

Toyota delays U.S. crossover plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 May 2008 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toyota to build plant in Mississippi

Dan Roth — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 06:54:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota

As Toyota continues its quest for world domination, they've chosen a location in northeastern Mississippi to build a new $800 million plant. The location, known as the Wellspring Project Megasite, is situated well for heavy manufacturing and was surely shopped hard to big industry like automotive manufacturing. The plant is likely to build SUVs, and we'll know for sure when all the politicians, local officials and Toyota representatives formally announce the plant today. Tupelo High School will be left reeling from the hullabaloo that will ensue, we're sure.

At a time of uncertainty and job cuts, It bodes well that Toyota is adding more jobs for US workers. Target production is 150,000 vehicles yearly when the plant is up and running in 2009. Say what you will about Toyota "invading" the US and dethroning our auto industry, we're happy to see US workers getting offered some relief. So many other industries have moved to other countries, taking good blue-collar opportunities with them. Mississippi also just recently attracted Nissan to build a plant in Canton, MS, so at least it looks like some of those laid off GM, Ford, and DCX workers will have someplace to go. We hear there's less snow than in Detroit, too.

Thanks for the tip, Guy!

[Source:djournal.com]

Toyota to build plant in Mississippi originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Feb 2007 06:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Second "BioWillie" service station opened

Joel Arellano — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 10:05:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green

Earth Biofuels, Inc., the distributor of singer Willie Nelson's "BioWillie" biodiesel fuel, has opened another biodiesel service station. The first, near Jackson, Mississippi, opened last year. The new station is located in Grenada, Mississippi. The opening was attended by such luminaries as state senators Cindy Hyde-Smith and Perry Lee; and Earth Biofuels board members Morgan Freeman, Tommy Johnson, Bill Luckett, and Dennis McLaughlin. Senator Lee said, "I see a tremendous potential for this industry, especially for the soybean farmers in the state of Mississippi."

See here to learn more about "BioWillie" sold in California and here for another Earth Biofuels, Inc., post.

[Source: Earth Biofuels Inc. via Business Wire]

Second "BioWillie" service station opened originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Mar 2006 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments