Nissan LEAF – Manufacturing Facility

The other day, Nissan began construction of a 1.3 million square-foot manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tennessee that will produce the lithium-ion batteries to power its LEAF – slated for US production in 2012.

I’ll be very happy when I can formally eat the words I’ve been writing these past few years – words to the effect that the OEMs – due to their lack of real incentive to put EVs on the road – are very likely to dawdle and continue to spew a never-ending stream of excuses why production quantities of EVs are impossible. I know that Mark Perry (Nissan’s North American director of EV and Advanced Technology), whom I’ve met a few times, was clearly miffed with me last fall when I expressed some level of skepticism about the effort. “I thought you were paying attention,” he said. Mark, that’s not the issue. I am paying attention; trust me.

I’ve also listened to Carlos Ghosn (president and CEO of Nissan Co., Ltd) speak, and I can tell you, he presents a compelling case. In connection with this plant opening he told reporters,

“Nissan is committed to affordable, sustainable mobility. What we’re doing here will radically transform the automotive experience for consumers. Today is a major step in helping create a green economy in the United States,” he said. “Production of Nissan LEAF and lithium-ion batteries in Smyrna brings the United States closer to its goal of energy independence, creates green jobs and helps sustain American manufacturing. Nissan is a leader in global manufacturing innovation, and this state-of-the-art battery plant will strengthen that leadership.”

Perhaps even more important than the 150,000 LEAFs that will soon be coming out of Tennessee annually is the enormous and immediate ripple-effect caused directly by Nissan’s commitment; virtually every major OEM is running at full speed toward a major competitive program. I have to say that the time for the EV has come — and I am fully prepared to eat my previous words.