Nissan inaugurates R $2.6 billion (USD $1.5 billion) automotive complex in Brazil to capture 5% market share

• Investment of R $2.6 billion (USD $1.5 billion) *
• Production capacity of 200,000 vehicles and engines per year
• Production starts with the brand new Nissan March
• Creation of 2,000 direct Nissan jobs expected
• Incorporates environmentally friendly "green belt" design surrounding complex and Turfeira Lagoon Preservation Unit

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Today Nissan officially opened its R $2.6 billion (USD $1.5 billion) * industrial complex in Resende, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, marking one of the largest automotive investments by any manufacturer in the country. This investment is part of an effort to achieve 5 percent market share and to become the number one Japanese automotive brand in Brazil.

The new Nissan facility already employs about 1,500 people and is expected to grow to around 2,000. The complex includes all facets of automotive production – from the stamping of sheet metal into parts to vehicle assembly and road course testing for the estimated 200,000 vehicles and 200,000 engines the complex will have the capacity to produce each year.

Nissan Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn joined the governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Luis Fernando Pezão; Nissan chairman for Latin America, José Luís Valls; and president of Nissan Brazil, François Dossa along with other authorities, company employees and guests in today's event.

"The Nissan Industrial Complex of Resende is fundamental to achieving our growth objectives in Brazil, which is the fourth largest automotive market in the world and a key part for our development in Latin America. Our goal is to achieve 5 percent market share and to lead Japanese automakers in quality and customer service in Brazil by 2016," said Ghosn.

The Nissan Resende complex will produce Nissan's "Platform V" vehicles and engines starting with Nissan March and the 1.6 16V flexfuel engine.

"Nissan's expansion of our manufacturing capacity throughout the Americas over the last two years, with new plants opened in the United States (2012), México (2013) and now in Brazil (2014) underscores the untapped opportunities that we foresee throughout the hemisphere and, specifically, in Brazil," said Jose Luis Valls, chairman of Nissan Latin America.

"Nissan began operations in Brazil in 2000, and the opening of the Resende complex consolidates its presence, launching a new phase for growth in the country. The new site in Resende will help Nissan to deliver more quality, and more technological and up to date products," said François Dossa, president of Nissan Brazil.

All Nissan Resende employees have undergone special training, and more than 300 have trained outside Brazil for three months at Nissan's plants in Japan, Mexico, the United States and England. Because quality is a priority for Nissan, the vehicle quality control team underwent six months of special training in Japan and Mexico. In the last year, Nissan has invested more than $4 million in technical training for the Resende workers.

Technology on Behalf of Quality and Sustainability
Training has followed the guidelines of the Nissan Production Way, with the creativity and perseverance of Brazilian employees complementing the technology of the most modern Japanese processes and equipment to ensure the highest quality vehicles and engines in a way that protects the surrounding environment.

In total, 88 robots carry out tasks that demand more precision or could incur safety or ergonomic risks. In most areas, Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGV) – small self-driven robots – move small carts of parts, eliminating the need for transportation belts with combustion engines or platforms activated by chains, making the operation safer and quieter.

The vehicle painting process follows the modern and sustainable "3Wet" water-based paint system with base and varnish done soon after primer application, making the process shorter and reducing energy consumption. The robots use cartridges that reduce the waste of paint and solvents, reducing the emission of volatile organic components (VOCs) and making the operation more environmentally friendly.

A Green Plant Inside and Outside
The principles of ensuring that Nissan's Industrial Complex in Resende is sustainable and environmentally friendly go beyond improved assembly equipment and advanced processes to the original design of the buildings and the entire infrastructure. The buildings showcase natural illumination and ventilation systems, which reduce energy consumption and have low environmental impact. Production processes also reuse water by filtering solids for recycling or proper disposal. The objective is to constantly reduce CO2 emissions and the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) created by production.

Outside the walls of the plant, a green "belt" will be planted to surround the entire complex, which will help to reducing both emissions and noise. The belt will reflect the region's natural habitat and occupy an area of more than 12 acres.

Nissan also has committed to investing in the preservation green areas in the region with reforestation in some habitats. The company will create an environmental preserve for the Turfeira Lagoon located next to its industrial complex, which is fundamental to maintaining biodiversity and an ecosystem that's required for the survival of more than 150 species of birds.

Even More Brazilian Investment and Content with Supplier Park
The new industrial complex gives Nissan an opportunity to create a much larger presence in Brazil and continue to grow. To accommodate additional growth, infrastructure for a supplier park has been set up adjacent to the complex. The supplier park already has four auto parts suppliers set up in addition to two that operate inside the plant. These suppliers, which have moved to the region to support Nissan, include:

• Tachi-S, seat producers
• Yorozu, suspension supplier
• Kinugawa, rubber seal producer
• Calsonic Kansei, cockpit components
• Mitsui Steel, plates supplier  
• Sanoh, brakes and fuels pipes

Nissan aims to reach a rate of nearly 80 percent local content in Resende by 2016.

* (USD $1.5 billion ; exchange rate from October 2011 when facility was announced)

Technical Data of the Complex of Resende

About Nissan Brazil
Growing significantly over the recent years, Nissan is in Brazil since 2000 and aims to achieve 5 percent market share by 2016. Nissan of Brazil currently operates with 169 dealers across the country and has plans to increase this number to 240 until 2016. Nissan produces in Sao Jose dos Pinhais, Parana, since 2002 and in Resende, Rio de Janeiro since 2014.

Underlining its commitment to the country, Nissan of Brazil is official sponsor of the Rio 2016™ Olympic and Paralympic Games Rio 2016™. This partnership includes the supply of about 4,500 vehicles of various types that will meet the needs of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Rio 2016™ and Team Brazil. This fleet will prioritize clean energy (ethanol or electricity), supporting the Rio 2016™ efforts to achieve the sustainability goals of the Games.

About Nissan LATAM
Nissan LATAM encompasses two business units: Nissan Brazil (NBA) and Nissan Latin America and the Caribbean (NLAC). The region services 38 diverse markets, almost 500 dealerships and two automotive manufacturing operations. One is a R $2.6 billion project in Resende, Rio de Janeiro which will have the capacity to produce 200,000 vehicles as April 2014. The second has operated under the Renault-Nissan Alliance in Curitiba over the last 10 years.

About Nissan Motor Co.
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 approximately 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/

###

Contact

Maria Santiago
Director, Corporate Communications, Latin America Region
Office: +52 55 5431-1525
E-mail: Maria.Santiago@nissan.com.mx