Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Nissan expects Leaf sales to double when TN plant comes online]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/19/nissan-expects-leaf-sales-to-double-when-tn-plant-comes-online/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/19/nissan-expects-leaf-sales-to-double-when-tn-plant-comes-online/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/19/nissan-expects-leaf-sales-to-double-when-tn-plant-comes-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Nissan Leaf - blue - front three-quarter view

The Nissan Leaf isn't exactly flying off dealer shelves these days, but the slow-selling EV could receive a sales boost when some production is moved to Tennessee. Bloomberg reports that Nissan is ambitiously expecting to double Leaf sales once the plant comes online in December. The sales boost would then give Nissan a chance at hitting 20,000 sales for the fiscal year that ends on March 31, 2013.

It isn't out of the question that the Leaf could gain momentum with the help of local manufacturing, but first Nissan will need to get EV buyers in the showroom. Leaf sales have ebbed the past two months, falling behind the Chevrolet Volt in sales by more than a three-to-one margin. And speaking of margins, moving production to Tennessee from Japan should help Nissan's quest to make money on the Leaf thanks to lower labor and parts costs.

The Smyrna, Tennessee plant will be ramped up for Leaf production by December. The facility will be able to build up to 200,000 Leaf models and 150,000 battery packs per year.

Nissan expects Leaf sales to double when TN plant comes online originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 nissan leaf2013 nissan leafleafnissannissan tennesseesmyrnasmyrna tennesseetennesseeTue, 19 Jun 2012 10:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20260394/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/19/nissan-expects-leaf-sales-to-double-when-tn-plant-comes-online/20260394/article-detail.xml 20260394 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/01nissanleaf2011fd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/01nissanleaf2011fd.jpg <![CDATA[Tennessee ranks top in automotive manufacturing strength]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/22/tennessee-ranks-top-in-automotive-manufacturing-strength/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/22/tennessee-ranks-top-in-automotive-manufacturing-strength/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/22/tennessee-ranks-top-in-automotive-manufacturing-strength/#commentsFiled under: , ,

volkswagen passat chattanooga plant

Ask anyone in the country to name the state that they believe is the best place to build automobiles. We'd wager that Michigan would be the first state uttered by most - it's the home to Ford, Chrysler and General Motors, after all). The correct answer, however, according to Business Facilities, is Tennessee, which has been crowned the champ with regards to automotive manufacturing strength. Make that defending champ, since this is the second year in a row that Business Facilities has recognized Tennessee as the top spot to build cars.

Why Tennesse? Just ask Volkswagen and Nissan about their state-of-the-art facilities, happy workers and the burgeoning crop of supply companies flocking to the state. Another major plus for the automakers is that Tennessee is a right-to-work state, which allows them avoid tangoing with unions. Both automakers employ non-unionized teams, and their employment numbers are growing.

So where does Michigan rank on the Business Facilities list of the top ten states for automotive manufacturing strength? Sixth, behind South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and Alabama. The rest of the the top spots are held by Ohio, Mississippi, Texas and Indiana.

Tennessee ranks top in automotive manufacturing strength originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chattanoogachattanooga plantnissannissan tennesseesmyrnasmyrna planttennesseevolkswagenvwvw plantvw tennessee plantMon, 22 Aug 2011 08:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20022394/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/22/tennessee-ranks-top-in-automotive-manufacturing-strength/20022394/article-detail.xml 20022394 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/db2010au01599_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/db2010au01599.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan Leaf production to start in Smyrna by late 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/11/nissan-leaf-production-to-start-in-smyrna-by-late-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/11/nissan-leaf-production-to-start-in-smyrna-by-late-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/11/nissan-leaf-production-to-start-in-smyrna-by-late-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Nissan Smyrna battery plant

Bill Krueger, head of Nissan's manufacturing and supply chain management, tells Automotive News that the March 11 quake in Japan disrupted construction of the automaker's Nissan Leaf production complex in Smyrna, TN, but says there's no need to worry because his team is working 'round the clock to stick to the automaker's open-by-late-2012 timetable.

Says Krueger:
We're still targeting to launch on time. It's too early to give up on meeting our original timing. We have just shy of a year and a half to make it up. We had people over there training when the lights went out. Production didn't happen for a month. That drove the training curve back. We're looking at work-arounds to try to accelerate the schedule now.
This means that, if Nissan can get back on track, the first U.S.-built Leafs will roll down the assembly line in Smyrna, TN in late 2012. Nissan says up to 150,000 Leafs will be built at Smyrna annually.

Nissan Leaf production to start in Smyrna by late 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 nissan leafelectric vehicleleafnissannissan leafnissan leaf smyrnanissan leaf u.s.nissan tennesseesmyrnaMon, 11 Jul 2011 17:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19988433/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/11/nissan-leaf-production-to-start-in-smyrna-by-late-2012/19988433/article-detail.xml 19988433 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/nissanbatteryplantsmyrna1-thumb-630x448-75472_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/nissanbatteryplantsmyrna1-thumb-630x448-75472.jpg -1 2