Nissan Will Build Mercedes Engines in Tennessee

[HighestOfHigh]

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Just the Facts:

• Mercedes-Benz and the Renault-Nissan Alliance are expanding their collaboration.
• The partners will jointly engines at Nissan's Decherd plant in Tennessee in 2014.
• The Mercedes-Benz four-cylinder engines will be used in the new C-Class and future Infiniti models.

DECHERD, Tennessee — Mercedes-Benz and the Renault-Nissan Alliance are expanding their collaboration, with the production of Mercedes-Benz four-cylinder gasoline engines at Nissan's Decherd plant in Tennessee in 2014 for the new C-Class and future Infiniti models.

The partners said the plant will be able to build up to 250,000 engines a year "once full ramp-up is achieved."

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said the engine deal — the first time Mercedes-Benz engines have been built in North America — is "our most significant project (together) outside of Europe."

The engines from Tennessee will be shipped to the Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, which will build the redesigned C-Class sedan in 2014.

The Decherd plant, which opened in 1997, currently makes four-, six- and eight-cylinder engines for U.S.-built Nissan and Infiniti models.

The partners are broadening a collaboration that began nearly two years ago and has grown to include a variety of joint efforts, among them:

Microcars. The partners will share a new platform for the next-generation Smart Fortwo, which will be assembled in early 2014 by Mercedes-Benz in Hambach, France, as well as the next-generation Renault Twingo and Smart Forfour, to be built by Renault in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.

Entry-level city van. Due in late 2012 is a new Mercedes-Benz compact van based on the Renault Kangoo, to be built by Renault in Maubege, France.

Platform sharing. A new Infiniti compact will be based on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class platform in 2014.

Powertrain sharing. Renault-Nissan will supply Mercedes-Benz with small three-cylinder gasoline engines for the new Smart and Twingo, as well as four-cylinder diesels for a jointly developed light commercial vehicle and the next-generation A-Class. Mercedes-Benz will supply four- and six-cylinder gas and diesel engines for future Nissan and Infiniti models.

Electric cars. Renault-Nissan will supply motors in 2014 for the Twingo ZE and Smart ED, while Mercedes-Benz will provide batteries.

Inside Line says: The partners could expand their current crossholding share of 3.1 percent in each other.

- Nissan Will Build Mercedes Engines in Tennessee

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

so it's really gonna happen. Curious to see how it'll pan out.

 

[330CIZHP]

I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing.

 

[K-A]

As long as they keep them for the low rent models, this will only be merely disgraceful.

Nissan powertrains for Benz prices, gotta love it.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

As long as they keep them for the low rent models, this will only be merely disgraceful.

Nissan powertrains for Benz prices, gotta love it.

Nissan will be building Mercedes engines?

 

[K-A]

Yeah that's what the title states?

 

[Wolfgang]

 

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

Pcar in 2014.

 

[Mr Robert]

...as long as it is done better than the PSA/BMW engines...

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Nissan agrees to make engines for Mercedes in Tennessee

Nissan and Daimler to produce engines together in North America

In the latest step forward in the collaboration of the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler, Nissan's Decherd, Tenn., plant will build Mercedes-Benz 4-cylinder engines for Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz starting in 2014.

Nissan and Daimler will produce Mercedes-Benz 4-cylinder gasoline engines together at Nissan's powertrain assembly plant in Decherd, Tenn. Production will begin in 2014, with installed capacity of 250,000 units per year once full ramp–up is achieved. The Decherd facility will produce engines for Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti models.

"This is the newest milestone in our pragmatic collaboration and our most significant project outside of Europe so far," said Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn. "Localized capacity reduces exposure to foreign exchange rates while rapidly enabling a good business development in North America – a win-win for the Alliance and Daimler."

The collaboration marks the first production of Mercedes-Benz engines in the North America Free Trade region. The Tennessee plant's strategic location and logistics links ensure a direct supply of engines starting in 2014 for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, built at Daimler's vehicle plant in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

"In the context of our Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy, we have decided that we will expand the production capacities required for this close to the customers. Through the strategic extension of our cooperation with Renault-Nissan we can realize near-market engine production in the NAFTA region on attractive economic terms and make optimum use of synergies arising from the cooperation," Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Daimler Board of Management and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, said. "Thus we are systematically broadening our manufacturing footprint in this important growth market."

Nissan began powertrain assembly in Decherd in 1997. Today it manufactures 4-, 6- and 8-cylinder engines for the complete lineup of U.S.-produced Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. The plant also houses crankshaft forging and cylinder block casting operations. In 2011, Decherd produced more than 580,000 engines on a covered area of more than 1.2 million square feet (111,000 square meters).

Project portfolio expands
Daimler and the Renault-Nissan Alliance launched their strategic collaboration in April 2010, including an equity exchange that gives the Renault-Nissan Alliance a 3.1 percent stake in Daimler and Daimler a combined 3.1 percent interest in Renault and Nissan.

The collaboration began with three project pillars:

Joint smart/Twingo architecture: The project is on track for launch in the early first quarter of 2014. Two-seater smart vehicles will be produced at Daimler's plant in Hambach, France, and four-seater smart and Renault production are slated for Renault's plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.
All-new entry-level city van project for Mercedes-Benz: The project is on schedule with expected launch in late 2012. Manufacturing at Renault's plant in Maubeuge, France.
Powertrain cross-supply: The Alliance is supplying Daimler with compact three-cylinder gasoline engines to be used in smart and Twingo vehicles and four-cylinder diesel engines to be used in the jointly developed light commercial vehicle and in Mercedes-Benz's next generation of premium compact cars. Daimler will supply Nissan and Infiniti with four- and six-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines from the current and future engine portfolio as well as with automatic transmissions.

Since its founding in April 2010, the collaboration has been gradually expanded. In addition to the announcement this week about North American engine production, the companies also decided to partner on:

Platform sharing: Infiniti plans to base a premium compact vehicle on the Mercedes compact-car architecture, starting in 2014.
Zero-emission vehicles: Daimler will provide batteries from its production facility in Kamenz, Germany, and Renault-Nissan will provide electric motors for the use in electric vehicles (smart and Twingo ZE). First releases will occur in 2014.

- Nissan agrees to make engines for Mercedes in Tennessee

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

As long as they keep them for the low rent models, this will only be merely disgraceful.

Nissan powertrains for Benz prices, gotta love it.

Well then, my point was it's a Mercedes powertrain, not a Nissan one.

I wonder what, "All-new entry-level city van project for Mercedes-Benz: The project is on schedule with expected launch in late 2012. Manufacturing at Renault's plant in Maubeuge, France," refers to. Wolf?

 

[Wolfgang]

^ Some of MB's commercial van customers may want a smaller in-city delivery van below the Vito?

 

[Wolfgang]

Nissan breaks ground on engine plant

DECHERD, Tenn. (AP) - Nissan breaks ground Wednesday on an engine plant in Decherd, Tenn. The plant will assemble engines for Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti models when production likely begins in 2014. The number of potential employees has not been announced. The engines will be supplied for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which is built at a Daimler plant in Tuscaloosa, Ala. An existing plant in Decherd already makes engines for the Infiniti JX.

Nissan and Daimler first began a partnership in April 2010. Nissan's USA headquarters are in Franklin, Tenn., just south of Nashville. A manufacturing facility is at Smyrna just southeast of Nashville. Decherd is about 80 miles southeast of Nashville.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

http://www.wtvm.com/story/18238322/nissan-breaks-ground-on-engine-plant

 

[K-A]

Hold up, is that saying that Nissan is building motors, not only for M-B cars, but for the C-Class?

Who wouldn't want to pay M-B prices, buy a German M-B made in America.. at a Nissan plant.. with a motor made by Nissan!

Where do I sign up?!

 

[Monteverdi]

Who wouldn't want to pay M-B prices, buy a German M-B made in America.. at a Nissan plant.. with a motor made by Nissan!

That sentence alone would be a hell of a commercial slogan.

 

[Wunderkind]

It's not that bad. A new engine plant with state of the art tooling can only be good for us.

I remember when Mercedes licensed Ssangyong motors of South Korea to build their M103 and M104 in-line six cylinder engines for use in their models. The engines were manufactured in Ssangyong's then state of the art engine plant and these engines had a slight performance advantage over their German-built cousins of around 1%.

 

[Wolfgang]

press release

Nissan Begins Construction Of New Facility To Manufacture Infiniti And Mercedes-Benz Engines In Tennessee​

Construction of engine assembly operations in Decherd supports Daimler partnership​

DECHERD, Tenn., May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The partnership between the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler reached a milestone today when Tennessee officials joined Nissan leadership to break ground on a new manufacturing facility in Decherd, Tenn. The new facility – located at the existing Nissan powertrain assembly complex – will produce Mercedes-Benz 4-cyl. gasoline engines for Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz models.

Senior Vice President Research & Development, Nissan Americas Carla Bailo and Vice President Production Engineering and Component Facilities Mark Swenson joined local officials to mark the start of construction on this significant project.

"Today, we begin an exciting new chapter for the Renault-Nissan Alliance and our continued investment in the United States," Swenson said. "Today's groundbreaking marks the latest move in our collaboration with Daimler to localize production capacity and enhance our competitiveness in the global market."

Production of the new engines will begin in 2014 with installed capacity of 250,000 units per year. At maximum capacity, the new facility is expected to create up to 400 jobs and will be the first location Mercedes-Benz manufactures engines in the North America Free Trade region. The Tennessee plant's strategic location will ensure a direct supply of engines for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, to be built at Daimler's vehicle plant in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (as of 2014).

Daimler and the Renault-Nissan Alliance first announced their strategic collaboration in April 2010 and are extending their reach into the United States as part of both companies' growth strategy. The companies are also moving forward with a vehicle platform sharing initiative between Infiniti and Mercedes, and development of zero-emission vehicles. The decision to begin jointly producing engines in the U.S. marks the two organizations' collaborative effort's largest venture outside of Europe.

About Decherd

Nissan began powertrain assembly in Decherd in 1997. Today, it manufactures 4-,6- and 8-cylinder engines for the complete lineup of U.S.-produced Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. The plant also houses crankshaft forging and cylinder block casting operations. In 2011, Decherd produced more than 580,000 engines on a covered area of more than 1.2 million square feet.

About Nissan North America

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, and 2012 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com.

About Nissan

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second largest Japanese automotive company by volume, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan and is an integral pillar of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 150,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4 million vehicles in 2010. With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of fuel-efficient and low-emissions vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero-emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades including the prestigious 2011 European Car of the Year award.

SOURCE Nissan North America

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http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...edes-benz-engines-in-tennessee-150800825.html​

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