Nissan is building the US’s largest a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in the US capable of building lithium-ion battery packs, destined for use in its all-electric LEAF car.
Nissan says construction of the advanced plant is approximately 75% complete and is scheduled to be finished by late summer (late winter in Australia).
Nissan then will start installing the battery manufacturing equipment inside the plant, which will be capable of producing lithium-ion batteries beginning in late 2012. The plant will have the capacity to produce 200,000 batteries annually.
Nissan’s Melbourne casting plant has been awarded exclusive global manufacturing contracts to develop $160 million of aluminium components for the Zero Emission LEAF electric car.
The contracts will reportedly secure 145 jobs for Australia at the casting plant in Dandenong.
The new 475,000 sq.-ft. battery facility in the US will be a manufacturing centre of excellence for clean transportation solutions, says Nissan.
Nissan claims the LEAF is the world’s first zero emission, five-door family hatch. It is currently assembled in Japan, but will also be assembled in the USA and UK by 2013.
It was recently named "World Car of the Year" by a panel of automotive journalists from Asia, Europe and North America.
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