Nissan’s powertrain assembly plant in Decherd, Tennessee, on Thursday (17 September) completed the first engine for export to Japan where it will be installed in the redesigned Infiniti QX56 full-size sport utility vehicle.


QX56 production has shifted from the US to Japan and this is the first time a Nissan plant in the United States has exported engines to Japan.


The engine is a 320hp 5.6-litre V8 with 320 hp and 393 lb ft of torque and similar to the engines in the US-built Titan pickup and Armada full-size SUV.


Decherd produces the engine head, cylinder block and crankshaft for the V8 and will also ship these parts to Japan for a locally assembled engine used in the Nissan Patrol full-size SUV.


Nissan decided to export the engine because Decherd was competitive and it could avoid the cost of shipping and reinstalling tooling and manufacturing in Japan.

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Complete engines will go to Nissan’s Shatai Kyushu plant for installation in the QX56 while the plants will go to Yokohama to be assembled on to the Patrol engines.

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