DFL invests RMB 5 billion for new planet in Dalian

Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd. (DFL), Nissan's joint venture in China, today announced it will build an all-new manufacturing facility in Dalian, Liaoning Province, China with an investment of up to RMB 5 billion (USD $800 million). The Dalian plant, scheduled to begin manufacturing NISSAN-branded passenger vehicles, will have an initial annual production capacity of 150,000 units by 2014, and will expand up to 300,000 units. "China is our largest market today and will continue to be one of Nissan's most important engines of growth," said Hiroto Saikawa, Executive Vice President of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., at the groundbreaking ceremony. "Together with the Huadu plant in the south and the Xiangyang and Zhengzhou plants in central China, the Dalian plant in the northeast will be an important addition to our local supply base to realize our sales target of 2 million units in China by 2015. The Dalian plant reconfirms Nissan's commitment to China and our willingness to continue delivering high-quality products to our Chinese customers nationwide." DFL also signed a contract to deliver 1,000 VENUCIA-branded electric vehicles (EVs) to the pilot program conducted by Dalian Municipal Government by 2014. DFL and the City of Dalian, as a pilot city for alternative-energy vehicles, will collaborate to promote EVs and the infrastructure necessary to support them. "Thanks to the Dalian Municipal Government, we are very excited to contribute to this program through the delivery of 1,000 EVs," said Kimiyasu Nakamura, president of DFL. "Nissan is committed to Zero Emission leadership globally and believe that the electric vehicle is the most viable alternative-energy mobility solution for the Chinese market. DFL will launch the VENUCIA EV adapting Nissan's advanced EV technology and will continue to work with governments to realize this vision," he added. The VENUCIA EV concept was most recently showcased at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show this April.