FRANKLIN, TN - Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) officially launched production of its all-new 2012 Nissan NV commercial van with Job One ceremonies at its expanded Canton, Miss., 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.

"Today's 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, MS 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.

"Since we think the Nissan NV is ideally suited for use by contractors such as home builders, we've decided to let Habitat for Humanity put it to the test in the real world," said Tavares.

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Scheduled to launch in spring 2011, the Nissan NV is available in three models, NV1500, NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD, and in two roof configurations - Standard Roof and High Roof. The NV is the first commercial van to offer rugged body-on-frame construction combined with a High Roof, offering most users the ability to walk, stand and work in the cargo area.

The NV's rugged, masculine design combines a pickup truck-style full-length hood, providing generous access to the engine for service and maintenance and added driver compartment roominess and comfort, along with signature Nissan styling cues such as large headlights and vertical grille. The broad bodysides project a serious commercial vehicle appearance and provide ample room for company logos and advertising messages. The tall, wide doors offer easy access to the cargo area.

Inside the cab is a roomy comfortable interior with wide, supportive seating and an expansive instrument panel. The passenger seat includes a segment-exclusive fold-down feature, providing a convenient worktable. An available large lockable center console (also segment-exclusive) offers innovative storage compartments and space to hold binders, hanging file folders and a laptop computer. Other convenient storage spaces include a wide overhead console (available with High Roof models), underseat storage drawers (NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD models) and large door pockets. Available 120V power outlets are located in the center console and rear of the cargo compartment.

The NV also provides exceptional utility, thanks to a long, wide cargo floor, square-top wheelwell housings and nearly vertical sidewalls. Along with maximizing cargo space, the sidewalls accommodate aftermarket storage systems without excessive modification.

The cargo area also features available inner panels to prevent cargo from denting the vehicle's outer skin. There are also multiple integrated reinforced mounting points for durable installation of cargo customization equipment.

Powering the rear-wheel drive Nissan NV is a choice of two powerful yet fuel-efficient engines - a 4.0-liter V6 rated at 261 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque, and a 5.6-liter V8 rated at 317 horsepower and 385 lb-ft of torque. Both are mated to a standard 5-speed automatic transmission. The NV is available in two grades, S and SV, each delivering smart functionality through a combination of the comfort and roominess of a pickup with the utility of a cargo van.

The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price* (MSRP) for the 2012 Nissan NV starts at $24,590. Full information on the complete NV lineup is available at nissancommercialvehicles.com.