Nissan North America Inc. (NNA) officially launched on Wednesday production of its all-new 2012 Nissan NV commercial van with Job One ceremonies at its expanded Canton, MS assembly facility. In attendance at the ceremony were Nissan Americas Chairman Carlos Tavares, Nissan Manufacturing and Purchasing Senior Vice President Bill Krueger, Nissan Manufacturing Canton Vice President Dan Bednarzyk, Nissan Commercial Vehicles Vice President Joe Castelli, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Gray Swoope.

The Canton facility, originally opened in 2003, underwent a two-year, $118 million expansion to accommodate production of the new Nissan NV, including:

• A 14,499 square foot Body Assembly Shop expansion

• Modification of 79,200 square feet of existing Body Assembly Shop

• Modifications to 59,000 square feet of existing Paint Shop plus the addition of 49,000 square feet

• And a new assembly line in the existing Trim and Chassis Shop

The Canton facility also produces the Nissan Altima sedan, Titan pickup and Armada SUV. Employment at the plant is 3,300.

"[The] Job One ceremony not only commemorates a new era for the Canton plant and launch of the innovative Nissan NV commercial van, it also represents growth for Nissan in North America and affirmation of our dedication to building the highest quality products for customers in every major product segment," said Tavares. "Nissan has been a leading innovator in commercial vehicles around the world for more than 75 years. It's with great pride that Nissan now enters the commercial vehicle market in the United States and Canada with the dynamic lineup of innovative, high quality Nissan NV vans built right here in Mississippi."

Nissan also announced the donation of a new 2012 Nissan NV to Habitat for Humanity of Metro Jackson, Miss., for their use in building new homes in the Canton - Jackson region. Over the past five years, Nissan has provided over $5 million in grant money and in-kind donations to Habitat for Humanity, and over 5,000 Nissan team members have volunteered in more than 25 home builds across the United States.