Nissan Murano production fires up in America for first time [w/video]

Fri, 07 Nov 2014

Production of the new, third-generation Nissan Murano has finally kicked off at the company's Canton, MS factory, marking not only the eighth vehicle built on the facility's lines, but also the first global product to be built there since it opened in 2003.

"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 boss for 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."

The addition of Murano production, which joins Altima, Armada, Titan, Frontier, Xterra and NV, brought a further 1,300 jobs.

Scroll down for a video from the start of production, as well as the press release from Nissan.

Nissan launches U.S. Murano production making Canton, Mississippi global export hub

CANTON, Mississippi – Nissan's Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant has gone global as the company rolls the first all-new 2015 Nissan Murano off the line today, marking the first time the model has been produced in the U.S. Nissan Canton is now the company's worldwide hub for Murano production, expanding export opportunities from the plant to more than 100 markets.

Bringing Murano production to the United States is part of Nissan's broader strategy to build where it sells, and it moves Nissan closer to achieving its goal of having 85 percent of the vehicles it sells in the United States produced in North America by 2015.

"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."

Murano is the eighth model currently built at the Nissan Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant and will be assembled on the same line as Xterra, Frontier, Titan and Armada.

"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 1,300 jobs-including nearly 400 supplier jobs-in Canton to support Murano production. Since its opening in 2003, Nissan has grown the Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant from a regional manufacturing facility to a global one, investing nearly $2.8 billion in the plant. With the addition of these jobs, the plant has grown to support more than 6,000 manufacturing jobs for the first time in its 11-year history.

"More than 11 years ago, Nissan propelled Mississippi's automotive industry into the global spotlight, and since that time, the company has served as the cornerstone of the industry in our state," said Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant. "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."

Since the first U.S.-assembled Nissan vehicle, a white pickup truck, rolled off the assembly line in June 1983, the company's U.S. manufacturing footprint has steadily grown. The combination of vehicle assembly plants in Canton and Smyrna, Tennessee, as well as Nissan and Infiniti powertrain plants in Decherd, Tenn., have produced nearly 13 million vehicles, 8 million engines and created more than 16,000 manufacturing jobs in the United States. Nissan's U.S. footprint also includes a design center in San Diego, financial operations in Dallas, research and development facilities near Detroit and Phoenix, and its North American headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee.

About the 2015 Nissan Murano
Nissan brought a concept car to life with the third-generation Murano, incorporating bold design elements including the V-motion front end, LED boomerang lights and the unique floating roof.

The breakthrough exterior design carries into the interior, which offers an engaging social lounge feel with a refined instrument panel, wide center console, NASA-inspired Zero Gravity front and outboard rear seating and the airy atmosphere created by the large windows and available oversized Power Panoramic Moonroof.

Responsive driving is provided by a standard 3.5-liter DOHC V6 connected to an advanced Xtronic transmission. Murano is available in front-wheel drive or Intuitive All-Wheel Drive.

A host of technology features are available, including NissanConnect with Navigation and Mobile Apps, Around View Monitor, SiriusXM Satellite Radio (SiriusXM subscription required, sold separately), 11-speaker Bose premium audio system (including dual subwoofers), Remote Engine Start with Intelligent Climate Control (from key fob), Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System and Streaming audio via Bluetooth.

Available safety and security systems include Moving Object Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Predictive Forward Collision Warning and Forward Emergency Braking. The new Rear Cross Traffic Alert system uses radar to detect a moving vehicle behind the Murano approaching from either side of the parking space.

About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com, or visit the Americas media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.

About Nissan
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 236,000 employees globally, Nissan sold more than 4.9 million vehicles and generated revenue of 9.6 trillion yen (USD 116.16 billion) in fiscal 2012. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of over 60 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. In 2010, Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF, and continues to lead in zero-emission mobility. The LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle launched globally, is now the best-selling EV in history.

For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.

By Brandon Turkus