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Nissan Americas Vice Chairman Bill Krueger on why it’s often more affordable to hire and manufacture in America in the U.S. market.
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Unemployment figures show that the economy added 80000 jobs last month below a lot of analysts' estimates Nissan motors I was helping.
To grow the future of job growth here in the United States a company announcing it will hire more than a thousand people at its Tennessee plant.
They also plans to shift some of its production back.
To the United States from overseas -- -- Is the vice chairman of Nissan Americas he joins us now in an exclusive interview and bill what kind of wanna discourage you it's great notes -- -- bring -- a jobs.
Back to America but why if it's cheaper.
To hire people overseas.
Well it's not necessarily cheaper entire people overseas we've got a great quality workforce here in Tennessee.
We haven't seen significant sales improvements this here.
Other industries been up 10% and Nissan's been up 15% so -- outpacing.
And -- -- actually more affordable when we considered the total delivered cost of vehicles produced here in Tennessee.
For the US market that is stressing out Tennessee is a right to work state would it be different if you had to -- the UAW.
Well we have we have operations and multiple states here in the US and we have a great relationship with our workforce.
And we believe that.
The workforce that we're gonna be attracting as is likewise gonna be well taken care of get competitive.
Wages and benefits and we certainly think we've got.
The right company.
And the right solution so you would be paying no less per hour for workers in Tennessee -- you -- for example in Detroit.
Well we don't have an operation in Detroit we've got our engineering staff out there but right now our we're paying competitive wages.
Above average here in Tennessee.
All right let's talk electorate if we can of course it's these Department of Energy loans are not too popular after Solyndra but you guys had one.
That helped develop that that Nissan leaf -- leaf is selling by the way a lot better than the volt and the Chevy Volt.
What is the least what his -- onto and right would believe that.
Chevy Volt is not.
Well the Nissan leaf is an all electric zero emissions vehicle and I think it it really is a great solution for those that are interested in driving.
-- emissions mobility.
The the loans certainly from the Department of Energy is gonna help us build a plant and that.
Employment really isn't included in this wave of hiring that we have right now.
The wave that will be hiring.
In the near future is really meant -- they increase the volume we've got a new Infiniti product the that will be launching in the spring.
And this Altima which is our.
Top seller and really a quality award winning product.
Were were really outpacing our capacity right now so we need to hire another.
Shift of workers to be able to satisfied that the demand that we have that's great news -- you're gonna be paying back the loan.
Well what words barely even drawing down below on at this point we will have our lithium ion battery plant.
In production.
About twelve to fourteen months from now and then -- start producing the Nissan leaf.
Shortly thereafter so we won't start.
Obviously paying back the loan and tell we've we've accumulated.
The funds necessary for the capital investment.
Well we're grow glad you're hiring here in the United States that is helping our jobs picture bill Kruger vice chairman of Nissan Americas good to see a -- thanks a lot.
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