Nissan Altima Begins Production in Smyrna

Nissan’s Smyrna plant began production of the 2007 Altima (today/yesterday) which continues to be the Japanese automaker’s number one seller with more than 250-thousand sold last year.

Nissan recently relocated its sales and marketing offices to Nashville which included director Fred Suckow (SOO-koe). He says the Altima is seen as a measuring stick of the carmaker’s entire lineup.

“Especially being our number one car, when it represents your number one volume in sales, people kind of hold that to a different standard and say ‘did they improve it? Did they improve enough things to keep people within the brand and continue to attract new people?’ So in a sense it’s our flagship.”

Suckow says research shows Altima-buyers are almost ten years younger than typical Honda Accord and Toyota Camry owners. He says African-Americans and Hispanic populations are also more likely to buy an Altima because of its “styled” look.

The Altima will be hitting dealership lots by November as the Smyrna plant produces roughly 3-thousand of the sedans per week. Nissan company officials are touting the added power and options on the Altima instead of fuel economy. A more fuel efficient hybrid version of the Altima begins production in Smyrna next month.