P.M. BRIEFING : Nissan Plans Tenn. Engine Plant
From Times Wire Services
DECHERD, Tenn. —
Nissan will build a $500-million plant in Tennessee to provide engines for light trucks and cars built 60 miles north at its plant in Smyrna, the Japanese auto maker said today. Nissan had considered Decherd, which is about 80 miles southeast of Nashville, and a site near Huntsville, Ala., for the engine plant.
A news release said engines will be the “primary product manufactured.” The Decherd plant will be Nissan’s first U.S. facility outside the Smyrna plant, which opened in 1980.
The Smyrna plant, with 3,900 employees, produces about 250,000 Sentras and light pickup trucks a year.
Nissan is spending $490 million to expand the Smyrna plant to produce another 180,000 compact cars a year.
