Nissan’s first US-produced 2014 Rogue came off the the line in Smyrna, Tennessee on Tuesday (15 October). Job One of the US version of the redesigned X-Trail was also nominated as the factory’s 10 millionth vehicle.
The Rogue is the fifth of five launches of new core Nissan models in just 15 months. Starting with the redesigned Altima, the automaker now has refreshed over 75% of its US volume model line.
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The shift of Rogue production to the US is part of Nissan’s strategy to build where it sells. By 2015, it aims to have 85% of products sold in there produced in North America.
That said, Smyrna Rogue production is set to be supplemented by Renault Samsung production starting in the second half of 2014.
Nissan said earlier it would keep the previous generation model, renamed Rogue Select, on sale “for the immediate future”. It will continue to be made in Kyushu, Japan.
“Momentum continues as we add new products, jobs and investment to our US manufacturing operations,” said Susan Brennan, Nissan’s head of manufacturing in Smyrna.
Demand for the Rogue grew nearly 50% from just under 100,000 units in 2010 to 142,000 units in 2012. Year to date sales to the end of September 2013 rose 13.6% year on year to 124,669. The redesign, on sale in November, offers optional three-row/seven-passenger seating.
“The consistent sales growth of Rogue has made it one of the superstars of the Nissan lineup since its launch in 2007,” said Nissan USA sales and marketing head Fred Diaz. “Now Nissan’s second-best selling vehicle, we will look to the all-new Rogue to continue its momentum and help drive the brand’s sales to the next level.”
Smyrna started building small pickup trucks and later added the Altima sedan. The plant now employs about 7,000 building the Altima, Maxima, Pathfinder, Leaf and Infiniti QX60. An adjacent plant make lithium-ion battery packs for the Leaf.
