Nissan has been building vehicles in Tennessee for a while, but now it is going to provide electric autos for American customers as well. The U.S. Department of Energy has confirmed that it will provide a $1.4 billion loan to Nissan North America for the production of Nissan Leaf. This is a small part of the $25 billion Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program approved by the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act.

In order to launch the assembly of the electric vehicle the manufacturer has to modify the facility which is situated in Smyrna, Tennessee. After all the work is done Nissan is going to produce 150,000 five-passenger Leaf EVs and 200,000 batteries for them every year at the plant. This creates 1,300 jobs for the residents of the town and nearby areas.

Along with the American version Nissan is launching Leaf in Europe and Japan. The first EVs there will be assembled in December.