Nissan's Leaf Electric Car Expected In Showrooms December 2010

SMYRNA, TENNESSEE - Nissan North America, Inc. will start manufacturing its Nissan Leaf electric car (see photo) in Smyrna, Tennessee in the United States this Fall. The Leaf electric car will be shipped to U.S, Europe and Japanese dealer showrooms starting in December 2010. The Nissan Leaf is a 100% zero emissions electric car powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, and it is rechargeable off of a home outlet. Nissan says they will also build a new battery plant in Smyrna, Tennessee that will manufacture lithium-ion battery packs for the Leaf.

Nissan's Tennessee manufacturing facility will have the capacity to produce up to 150,000 Nissan Leaf electric cars per year, and this will mean a huge percentage increase in the number of electric cars on North American roads starting in 2011. Nissan was recently awarded a $1.4 billion loan agreement from the Department of Energy to assist in the conversion of the Smyrna production to electric car production and to construct the battery production facility. Nissan says they will be able to produce up to 200,000 lithium-ion packs at the Tennessee plant. It is expected that over 1,300 people will be employed in the Smyrna manufacturing facility once it reaches full production.