Nissan expands Russian operations with local manufacturing

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia : June 2, 2009 - Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn today joined more than 1000 guests and employees at the opening event marking the start of production at the company’s new US$200 million assembly plant in St. Petersburg, Russia. With the capacity to produce 50,000 vehicles a year, the facility will build the business-class sedan Nissan Teana and Nissan X-TRAIL compact sport utility vehicle.

2009 Nissan Teana - JDM

The inaugural ceremony was attended by the representatives of federal and regional government led by Mr. Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of Russia with Valentina Matvienko, Governor of St. Petersburg.

"This is Nissan's breakthrough in Russia," said Ghosn. "The opening of our plant in Saint Petersburg in the current conditions underlines our confidence in the high potential of the Russian economy. With the start of production at our new plant Nissan become an integral part of the local community.”

The St. Petersburg Plant is scheduled to employ 750 workers at start of production with one shift. Additional jobs are being created by Nissan supplier companies and businesses that will support operations at the St. Petersburg Plant. The new plant will be an important contributor to Nissan’s vision of sustainable growth and return to profitability.

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. has announced its plans to build a new manufacturing plant in St. Petersburg three years ago, on April 25, 2006. On June 13, 2006, within the framework of the 10th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the St. Petersburg Government and an Investment Agreement with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation for the industrial car assembly. In February 2007 the Government of St. Petersburg gave this project the status of strategic investment project of St. Petersburg. An official ground-breaking ceremony took place on July 8, 2007.

Nissan always seeks for the opportunity to produce vehicles closer to the market to have more flexibility in adapting to the changing market demands and to use all the benefits of close-to-market production. Today the share of Nissan in the Russian total industry volume totals 5.7%. For Nissan, Russia represents one of the key global markets, ranking number one market in Europe and standing as number five globally. It also is an important part of Nissan and Renault-Nissan alliance strategy.

As everywhere in the world Nissan will organize all production activities in full compliance with its global manufacturing method named Nissan Production Way (NPW). This production philosophy ensures the quality of produced cars at the highest level in accordance with international standards.

Fujio Hosaka, General Director of Nissan Manufacturing Russia, said: “The St. Petersburg plant allows Nissan to localize our production and contribute to the development of the domestic auto industry. We hope to support to the local economy by creating employment opportunities, sharing of advanced technologies and development of the supply chain.”

Employing 180,000 people worldwide Nissan plans to design, produce and sell over 3 million passenger cars and commercial vehicles in more than 190 countries in fiscal year 2009.

[Source : NISSAN]