Noticias de la Industria Automotriz

JACKSON, MISS. – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is receiving an early Christmas gift, thanks to Nissan North America, Inc.

Today Nissan donated 50 full-size trucks and SUVs to support the agency’s emergency relief efforts throughout the state. Dave Boyer, vice president of Manufacturing at Nissan’s Canton Plant, presented the fleet to MEMA Director Robert Latham at the agency’s Jackson office.

“We recognize that recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina will take a very long time,” said Boyer. “By giving these vehicles to MEMA, Nissan will be a part of that long-term effort. Our vehicles are making a difference by supporting the crews that are involved in the critical work of rebuilding in Mississippi, and we’re glad to help.”

Nissan initially loaned the Nissan fleet of Nissan Titan full-size pickups and Nissan Armada full-size sport utility vehicles on Aug. 30, within hours after Hurricane Katrina came ashore on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The fleet of vehicles was leased by MEMA for $1, and the 30-day lease was designed to be extended as necessary.

The retail value of the 50 trucks is more than $1 million.

“This remarkable donation reflects Nissan’s commitment to not only the short-term needs of MEMA during the response, but their participation and investment in our state’s recovery that will take years,” said Latham. “Through this public-and-private partnership, the state will save valuable tax dollars. This will enable MEMA to field the additional staff it has been authorized to support the Katrina efforts and work to build a comprehensive emergency management capability in every county of our state.”

“I am very grateful to Nissan for donating these vehicles to MEMA,” said Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. “Nissan has always been a great corporate partner with the state and has proved to be a charitable partner in our hurricane recovery efforts as well. With the continued donations and assistance from helpful corporations like Nissan North America, I have no doubt that Mississippi will rebuild bigger and better than ever.”

Nissan’s hurricane relief efforts also include a donation of $500,000 in cash to the American Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund. The company matched dollar-for-dollar employee donations to the Red Cross fund, up to a total of $250,000 in employee contributions.

Nissan formed a non-profit entity called the “Nissan Disaster Relief Fund” to reduce hardship and provide financial and other assistance to survivors and victims of disasters who are employees of Nissan North America, of its affiliates, or of Nissan and Infiniti dealers and dealerships.

In October, Nissan donated $100,000 the Mississippi Rising gala fundraising concert, the proceeds of which went to the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund.

The Nissan Titans and Nissan Armadas in the MEMA fleet are built at Nissan North America’s Canton Plant, which also produces Nissan Quest minivans, Nissan Altima mid-size sedans and Infiniti QX56 full-size luxury SUVs. Nissan employs 4,300 people at the plant, which has the capacity to build 400,000 vehicles a year.

About Nissan North America

Nissan directly employs more than 24,000 people in the United States, Canada and Mexico and generates an additional 70,000 jobs at about 1,200 Nissan and Infiniti dealerships in the United States.

In North America, Nissan’s operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com or www.Infiniti.com.