Nissan North America Inc. (NNA) is entering the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) business through a significant investment in North America. NNA, as part of a global commitment to the segment, has announced it will introduce to the North American market three light commercial vehicles in three years and forge partnerships with Cummins Inc. for the engines and ZF Friedrichshafen AG for the transmissions.
Leading the LCV Business Unit in the United States will be Joe Castelli, who recently has been named vice president, Light Commercial Vehicle and Fleet, NNA. Key to this new strategy is the Nissan plant in Canton MS, which will become the manufacturing center for a range of new LCV products aimed at the North American commercial vehicle market.
Nissan will enter the LCV business with three all-new products in three years, developed by Nissan specifically for the North American market and built in Canton. The first of these three products will be launched in the first half of 2010.