Take Note: Nissan's New Hatchback Begins Production

KANDA-MACHI, Fukuoka prefecture, Japan - Nissan marked the start of Japan production of the all-new Note compact at a ceremony in Kyushu on Tuesday, ahead of the hatchback's imminent sales debut.

Manufacturing of the new Note shifts to the state-of-the-art Nissan Motor Kyushu plant in southern Japan, helping the automaker maintain a pledge to build 1 million vehicles annually in its home market, said Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga.

"Nissan Motor Kyushu is a strategically important plant for Nissan," Shiga said.

"If Nissan in Kyushu improves cost competitiveness even more, I'm sure Nissan Motor Kyushu will become stronger as a Nissan global manufacturing plant."

The new hatchback features a downsized, supercharged engine and is around 40 percent more economical than the current Note, achieving one of the highest mileage figures ever for a vehicle made by Nissan.

The car goes on sale nationwide on September 3 and is expected to become Nissan's best-selling model in Japan with a monthly sales target of 10,000 deliveries and a starting price of just under 1.25 million yen ($15,800).

"This Note has very strong potential with very attractive fuel consumption - it's an attractive product," Shiga added. "I'm expecting the Note to be always top-ranked among our domestic sales."

European and North American versions of the model are also in the pipeline, with Nissan's Kyushu operations a template for the new Note's global ambitions.

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