Nissan Begins Production of Murano in Canton

CANTON– Gov. Phil Bryant and officials from Nissan gathered today at the company’s vehicle assembly plant in Canton, Miss., to celebrate the start of production of the all-new 2015 Nissan Murano. In July 2013, Nissan announced the creation of 800 new jobs and the addition of a supplier park at the Canton location to support production of the Murano. This May, Nissan announced an additional 500 jobs to support production of the Murano, bringing employment at the plant to more than 6,000. The Murano, Nissan’s crossover vehicle, is the eighth model produced at the Canton plant.

The roll out of the 2015 Murano marks the first time the Murano has ever been produced in the U.S. The Canton plant becomes the global hub for Murano production, creating export opportunities in more than 100 markets worldwide and shifting the plant from a domestic manufacturer to a global one.

“Over a decade ago, Nissan propelled Mississippi’s automotive industry into the global spotlight. Since that time, the company has served as a cornerstone of the industry in our state. I am grateful for Nissan’s ongoing investment in its Canton operations and for providing so many Mississippians with great job opportunities,” Gov. Bryant said. “Today’s debut of the first Murano manufactured in the U.S. once again puts Mississippi on the global stage and helps us further demonstrate to the world that we have a business environment that spurs success and a quality workforce that takes pride in a job well done. I thank Nissan for adding the Murano to the Canton plant’s production line-up, and I wish the company many more successful years in our state.”

“The strategic investments that Nissan has made in Canton serve as a testament to the flexibility, efficiency and talent of our workforce and suppliers,” said John Martin, Nissan’s senior vice president, Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management and Purchasing. “In Canton, we build high-quality vehicles that compete and win globally, and the bold new Murano will build on that reputation.”

Gov. Bryant and Nissan officials announced in January 2013 the company would bring production of the Murano to the Canton plant. The announcement was made during an event commemorating Nissan’s tenth anniversary of operations in Mississippi.

“Today’s rollout of the Murano is a testament the quality and ingenuity of Mississippi’s manufacturing workforce. More than a decade ago, the Nissan Canton plant opened with one vehicle model being produced; now eight models are produced there, allowing Nissan the flexibility to meet consumer demand in real time,” said MDA Executive Director Brent Christensen. “MDA thanks the Nissan team for its dedication to Canton and the state of Mississippi. We look forward to working with Nissan again in the future and congratulate the company on this milestone event.”

Nissan employs more than 6,000 team members at its Canton location. The company first announced plans to construct the manufacturing plant in 2000, and it began production in 2003. Since that time, employees at the facility have built more than 2.8 million vehicles. In addition to the Murano, the Canton plant assembles the award-winning Altima, Armada full-size SUV, Xterra mid-size SUV, Titan and Frontier pickup trucks and NV cargo and passenger vans.