AUTOS

Nissan Shifting Sentra Production to Mexico: The Japanese auto maker said it will move production of the Sentra sedan by 2000 so it can make a new vehicle at its Smyrna, Tenn., assembly plant. Nissan wouldn’t confirm or deny reports that the new vehicle will be a pickup-based sport-utility that will debut in 1999. Its plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico, has been producing Sentras for the U.S. market since May 1995 and will gradually increase output to replace Sentra production at Smyrna. Smyrna will continue to produce the Nissan pickup and Altima mid-size sedan. No changes in employment at the plant are planned.