Nissan to Offer Commercial Truck in U.S. With Mississippi Plant Expansion

[NV Guide]

Nissan to Offer Commercial Truck in U.S. With Mississippi Plant Expansion

 

Nissan NV Forum - Nissan Motor Co. is building its first commercial trucks for the U.S. as Japan’s third-largest automaker seeks to boost regional revenue by expanding beyond sales of passenger cars and light trucks.

 

Nissan today marked the start of assembly of NV commercial vans at its Canton, Mississippi, plant that previously made only light-duty pickups and sport-utility vehicles and Altima sedans. The Yokohama-based company said it spent $118 million to modify the plant to accommodate commercial-truck production.

 

Given an improving U.S. economy, “we’re in a prime position to capture that tremendous pent-up demand for replacement vehicles,” Joe Castelli, Nissan’s vice president of commercial vehicles, said during a press conference webcast from the facility. “We plan on becoming a major player in the U.S.”

 

Nissan, which for decades has sold commercial trucks in Japan and other overseas markets, will fight for U.S. sales against Daimler AG’s Sprinter vans and General Motors Co.’s Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana. Ford Motor Co. is also targeting a bigger share of U.S. commercial van and truck sales. READ MORE HERE.