Nissan: US Build Jumps
Nissan Americas chairman Christian Meunier says the percentage of Nissan vehicles built in the U.S. rose from 45% a year ago to over 66% now, with a target of 80% going forward. (x.com) The short clip framing the surge as the "TRUMP EFFECT" went viral on X, racking up roughly 1,830 likes and 370 reposts. (x.com)
Christian Meunier made the comments at the New York Automotive Forum and said recent tariff policy “forced us to accelerate” localization of production. (bloomberg.com) He highlighted Nissan’s U.S. footprint of three plants — including the Smyrna, Tennessee complex — noting Smyrna is a 6‑million‑square‑foot facility with capacity for about 640,000 vehicles a year. (nbclosangeles.com) Meunier signaled product moves tied to that shift, saying Nissan will bring a plug‑in hybrid version of the Rogue to the U.S. in early 2026 and expand use of its e‑Power hybrid technology across future U.S. models. (advancedmanufacturing.org) He cautioned that some entry‑level models remain cost‑advantaged in Mexico, telling attendees the Sentra and Kicks are still made there because building those low‑margin cars in the U.S. would worsen margins and that tariffs have reduced per‑vehicle margins by roughly $2,500–$3,000. (bloomberg.com) A short clip of Meunier’s remarks was posted by RapidResponse47 on X and drew extensive engagement, and President Trump publicly congratulated Nissan on its U.S. manufacturing gains. (t.co) Nissan executives point to underused U.S. capacity — the Tennessee and Mississippi plants have a combined capability exceeding 1 million vehicles — as part of a push to reverse a roughly 40% drop in U.S. sales over the last decade and a reported $1.39 billion operating loss in the 2024–25 fiscal year. (advancedmanufacturing.org)
