Expansion Management

Nissan Sentra to be Produced In Mississippi, Adding 1,000 Jobs

July 9, 2012

Nissan has been a a leading employer in Mississippi for nearly a decade.

The announcement by Nissan Americas ( IW 1000/29) on June 28 that it will add production of the all-new 2013 Nissan Sentra compact car to its Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant in Mississippi means that 1,000 new jobs will be created.

The line will begin in the fourth quarter of 2012, along with the planned November shift of the Frontier pickup truck and Xterra SUV to Canton from Nissan's operations in Smyrna, Tenn.

"The Canton team has proved it can compete and win on a global scale, and it is due to this that we are adding three vehicles to our production roster in Mississippi," said Bill Krueger, vice chairman, Nissan Americas.

Production of the all-new Sentra, one of Nissan's best-selling models, also will take place at its plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico, where the model is produced today.

"Nissan has been a valued member of our state and local business communities and a leading employer in Mississippi for nearly a decade," Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said.

Nissan's Canton Assembly Plant, a 3.5-million square-foot facility on 1,400 acres outside of Jackson, Miss., represents an investment of more than $2 billion. In addition to future Sentra production, Canton currently builds the all-new 2013 Nissan Altima as well as the Armada full-size SUV, Titan full-size pickup and NV commercial vans. With the addition of Frontier and Xterra production, Canton will serve as a global center of excellence for body-on-frame vehicles.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor

Focus: Workforce, Talent

Follow Me on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Bio: Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with the publication and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics and EHS Today.

Editorial mission statement: Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I find manufacturing interesting: On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.