Nissan to build Murano in Mississippi

[January 11, 2013]  CANTON, Miss. (AP) -- Nissan Motor Co. will assemble its Murano crossover vehicle in its Mississippi plant beginning in late 2014.

Canton plant manager Dan Bednarzyk says Nissan will add 400 jobs to its current total of more than 5,000. Nissan wouldn't say how much it will spend to start making Muranos there. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant says the state isn't offering additional incentives.

Nissan now makes the Murano in Kyushu, Japan. Canton will be the only worldwide assembly location.

It would be the eighth model for the plant north of Jackson. Nissan already assembles the Altima and Sentra sedans, Armada and Xterra SUVs, Titan and Frontier pickup trucks and NV vans in Canton.

Nissan officials say they will also create a route for contract workers at U.S. plants to become full-time Nissan employees.

[Associated Press; By JEFF AMY]

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