Nissan Murano Begins Production In Mississippi For First Time

For the first time, the Nissan Murano crossover is being made in the company's Canton, Mississippi plant as the first dedicated export build for Nissan's North American operations.

The first 2015 Nissan Murano rolled off the line today in the company's Canton, Mississippi plant. This is the first time that the Murano has been produced in the United States as the Murano moves to the Canton, which is now it's world-wide hub for production. Many of the Muranos produced there will be exported to more than 100 markets globally.

Nissan has a strategic aim to have 85 percent of its U.S.-sold vehicles be built in North America by next year and is very close to achieving that goal. The 2015 Murano is the latest move to that end.

The Canton, Mississippi plant is one of two major Nissan production operations in the United States, the other being the Nissan North America headquarters in Smyrna, Tennessee (the company also produces engines in Dechard, TN). The Canton plant produces most of Nissan's truck and SUV lines, including the Armada, Frontier, Titan, Xterra, and commercial NV vans. It also co-produces the Altima and is now producing the Murano. The Canton plant employes more than six thousand people in its 4.2-million square feet with an annual payroll in excess of $254 million annually. It's capacity is 450,000 vehicles a year and the $2.6 billion dollar facility opened in 2003.

"Since I started with Nissan 11 years ago I've watched this plant grow, and I've had the opportunity to work on some of Nissan's most popular vehicles," said Christina Doss, Nissan Canton technician and member of the Murano launch team. "It's amazing to see how far we've come, and now that we're producing the Murano here, I get to tell friends and family that I work on vehicles that are shipped around the world." Nissan added about 900 jobs and about 400 jobs to suppliers in order to move Murano production to Canton.

Nissan has a large American presence with facilities throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South America. A design center in San Diego, research facilities in Detroit, testing grounds in Arizona, headquarter offices in Nashville, and more all dot the map. Although the company is global, Nissan says they have a very independent North American operation.