[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 14, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E930-E931]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    FRANKLIN COUNTY WELCOMES NISSAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VAN HILLEARY

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 14, 1997

  Mr. HILLEARY. Mr. Speaker, this is a proud and happy day for the 
citizens of Franklin County, TN. Today, Nissan will formally dedicate 
its all-new $80 million powertrain assembly plant in Decherd, TN.
  This new plant--Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corp.'s first expansion 
site outside of Smyrna, TN--will assemble 200,000 engines and 300,000 
transaxles annually. The engines will be installed on Nissan's Altima 
passenger sedans manufactured in Smyrna, and the transaxles will be 
placed on Altimas and Nissan/Quest/Mercury Villager minivans built in 
Avon Lake, OH.
  Nissan's expansion means that over 400 new jobs will be created in 
middle Tennessee.

[[Page E931]]

These are good jobs, which also serve as a catalyst for economic growth 
in Franklin County. That's good for everybody, not just the people who 
get jobs with Nissan.
  The opening of this new plant is only the latest chapter in Nissan's 
long record of investment in Tennessee and in America. Nearly 40 years 
ago, Nissan sold its first vehicle in the United States. Almost 15 
years ago, Nissan build its first truck in Tennessee. Since then, 
Nissan has grown tremendously, changing from a company that exclusively 
imported cars and trucks to a major U.S. automotive manufacturer with 
investment in the United States totalling over $2 billion. Fifteen 
years ago, Nissan made no vehicles here and bought few parts from U.S. 
suppliers. Now, over 70 percent of the Nissan cars and trucks sold in 
America are made here, and Nissan buys over $4 billion worth of parts 
and materials from U.S. suppliers each year.
  Nissan's powertrain assembly plant is a good example of how 
international investment and trade can benefit people in places like 
Franklin County. We all hear about companies shutting down their 
American plants and moving operations overseas. Nissan, however, has 
turned this ``conventional wisdom'' on its head. The engines that will 
be made in Decherd have up till now been produced in Mexico and 
imported into the United States. Likewise, the transaxles that will be 
made at the Decherd facility have previously been assembled in Japan.
  I applaud Nissan's confidence in America and extend our warmest 
welcome to Franklin County, TN.

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