Nissan LEAF: Assembly from our southern neighbors in 2012
The Japanese are currently the largest consumers in the world of hybrid cars. Thus, the third generation Toyota Prius remains the most sold, month after month car, while the smaller Honda Insight hybrid is still among the most sold in the country of the rising sun cars.
A third car, but this time a 100% electric propulsion will join this select club next December. This is the 6000 Nissan LEAF which firm orders have already been addressed to the manufacturer. Currently, this compact car is assembled at the factory in Yokosuka suburb of Tokyo.
This will be supplemented in 2012 situated in one second Smyrna plant in the United States or assemblies will have both the sedan and hatchback LEAF lithium-ion battery. This new plant built to the dimensions of the existing plant or the models are assembled Altima, Frontier, Maxima and Xterra. In these, there is the Suzuki Equator clone truck Frontier, will be able to assemble up to 150,000 models LEAF annually and 200,000 batteries.
The Nissan LEAF will be available in Japan and North America starting next December. Its entry Europeenne is scheduled for March 2011.
Here is the statement issued by Nissan
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Sustainable mobility arrived in the United States: Construction of the assembly plant of Nissan LEAF
The production of this car 100% electric powered with a lithium-ion will commence in 2012
SMYRNA, Tennessee (May 26, 2010) - Nissan today raised the sod under the project startup of production of Nissan LEAF in the United States. This groundbreaking was held on the occasion of a ceremony marking the start of construction of an assembly plant in Smyrna, Tenn., that will produce the lithium-ion batteries that will power the vehicle has zero Emission Nissan LEAF. The car all-electric Nissan LEAF will be produced at the factory assembling vehicles Nissan Smyrna, commencing in 2012.
Production of Nissan LEAF and batteries will create up to 1,300 jobs when factories operate at full capacity. The battery plant, which will be one of the largest manufacturing batteries vehicles in North America, will extend over 1.3 million square feet when it is at full capacity and can produce each year 200,000 batteries at the cutting edge of technology. It will be situated next to the assembly of vehicles, which will be retooled to allow production of 150,000 vehicles per year Nissan LEAF electric plant.
"Nissan is committed to facilitating access to sustainable mobility. What we are doing here will radically transform the experience of consumers of the automobile. Today's ceremony marks an important step in creating a green economy in the United States, "stated Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.. "Production of Nissan LEAF and lithium-ion Smyrna allow the United States to be closer to their goal of independence energetics, will create green jobs and help to support the American manufacturing sector. Nissan is a global leader in the field of manufacturing innovation, and the factory battery production at the cutting edge confirm the leading position. "
"Tennessee has become a national leader in innovation in the field of clean energy, and commitment to build the Nissan battery plant at the cutting edge of technology here in Tennessee is a key element this success, "stated Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen. "Nissan's investment in Tennessee has debuted there more than two decades, and this new plant opens the way for the next generation of jobs in the field of automotive and clean energy sources in that State. "
Overall, the construction of the battery plant and modification of the Smyrna plant to accommodate production of Nissan LEAF represent an investment of up to $ 1.7 billion, initially supported by 80% of a loan Ministry of Energy of the United States (Department of Energy), which represents a loan up to $ 1.4 billion.
This loan was granted under the loan program for the construction of vehicles using advanced technologies, a program of $ 25 billion authorized by Congress under the Act on Energy Independence and Security 2007 . This program aims to accelerate the development of vehicles and technologies that increase the energy independence of the United States and contribute to the creation of cleaner means of transportation and stimulate the American economy.
Approximately 13,000 customers in the United States reserve a Nissan LEAF vehicle since the opening of the reservations list, April 20. Such process of reservations open to the general public through the intermediary NissanUsa.com site is the first step to take to ensure a place on the list that you will buy or lease a Nissan LEAF.
Nissan will begin the deployment of the LEAF in certain target markets in the United States, Japan and Europe in December, then the offer will be extended in spring 2011 for a full deployment in 2012. Production will begin at Oppama, Japan, or the vehicles will be equipped with lithium-ion produced a Zama, Japan. The Renault-Nissan also produce lithium-ion Cacia, Portugal, and Sunderland, United Kingdom, and the Renault Flins, France.
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