Nissan's Decherd Plant Produces More Than Engines

Engine plant converts idle land for agricultural use and environmental benefits

Decherd, Tenn. (October 13, 2006) - What do Nissan Titan truck engines, Nissan Altima crankshafts and bales of cotton have in common? All three are produced in Decherd, Tenn., from the 968-acre site where the Nissan Powertrain Assembly Plant is located.

This year marks the first time cotton was produced at the place where Nissan builds all the engines for the nine Nissan and Infiniti vehicles manufactured in the United States. With an eye to land-use planning and environmental benefits, the company converted approximately 365 idle acres for agricultural use.

"At Nissan, we believe that being a good citizen means more than providing jobs and contributing to the local economy. It also means protecting the environment, practicing conservation and using all our resources wisely," said Brent Gill, director and plant manager at Nissan's Decherd Plant. "This agricultural program not only enhances our site in Franklin County, it also enhances the wildlife habitat surrounding our plant."

Under the guidance of the United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), Nissan leased the land to a local farmer to plant and harvest the cotton crop. USDA guidelines assure the cotton crop is grown following an approved pesticide and nutrient management program for the most beneficial farming methods. After harvest, a winter annual cover crop will be planted to reduce erosion of topsoil.

Previously, the land was periodically cleared only for maintenance purposes. Under the managed agricultural program, benefits to the land include reduced soil erosion, improved water quality from less run-off, and minimal soil disturbance using no-till methods of farming. The cotton crop also reduces emissions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere through the capture of carbon.

Profits from the lease of the land will be used to enhance the entire 968-acre campus. Plans include planting vegetative borders that prevent pesticide/herbicide migration from the cultivated areas and restore wildlife habitat. Starting in the spring, Nissan will plant field borders of native warm season grasses on the land.

"It's good to see a large corporation like Nissan thoughtfully planning the use of their entire property," said Adam Daugherty, Franklin County District Conservationist, USDA-NRCS. "It's important to farm in ways that reduce detrimental impacts to the environment. As partners with Nissan and the local farming community, we're providing value for both while introducing habitat for our declining upland species."

As a global corporation, Nissan places great importance on protecting the environment and minimizing its facilities' impact by conserving the use of energy, water and other resources. Nissan is focusing on three primary environmental objectives in its operations around the world, including managing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, recycling, and protecting air, water and soil. All three of Nissan's U.S. manufacturing plants have received certification to the ISO 14001 international environmental management standard. The Decherd Plant achieved certification in 1999.

Ongoing energy conservation practices include eliminating compressed air leaks, shortening startup times on process equipment, and establishing plant-wide task forces to generate energy-savings ideas. Employees are encouraged to turn off air compressors, equipment, lights and TV monitors when not in use.

Nissan's plants focus efforts on reducing the amount of waste generated, recycling waste materials whenever possible, and minimizing the amount of waste that has to be landfilled. The Decherd plant is on track to achieve zero waste to landfill by early 2008.

About Decherd Powertrain Assembly Plant

Construction of the Decherd Plant began in March 1995, and production started in May 1997 with 200 employees. Today, the workforce has grown to 1,400 employees, making the plant the largest private employer in Franklin County. The 1 million-square-foot powertrain assembly plant has been expanded three times since production began. A recently announced cylinder block casting expansion - the plant's fourth expansion - will add another 51,000 square feet at an investment of $34.7 million, bringing the total capital investment in the Decherd plant to $682.7 million. The plant has the capacity to build 950,000 engines and 1.1 million crankshaft forgings annually. The engine lineup includes a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, a 3.5-liter 6-cylinder, a 4.0-liter 6-cylinder and a 5.6-liter 8-cylinder. One of the engines produced in Decherd - the 3.5-liter V6 VQ - has been named to Ward's Communications' "Ten Best Engines" list for 12 consecutive years.

About Nissan North America, Inc.

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. 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.infiniti.com.

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