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Nissan to Boost Altima Capacity in U.S.

Nissan Motor Co. says it plans to add a third shift at its assembly plant in Smyrna, Tenn., later this year to meet anticipated demand for the overhauled Altima midsize sedan.

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Nissan Motor Co. says it plans to add a third shift at its assembly plant in Smyrna, Tenn., later this year to meet anticipated demand for the overhauled Altima midsize sedan. The company began producing the 2013 Altima this week.

Bill Krueger, vice chairman of Nissan's Americas unit, tells reporters the company already has annual capacity for 300,000 Altimas in Smyrna and its Canton, Miss., factory. Adding third shifts at both facilities and making other unspecified changes could boost output to 400,000 cars next year, he says.

Nissan aims to sell enough Altimas this year to overtake Toyota Motor Corp.'s Camry sedan and thus become America's top-selling car. Toyota sold 308,500 Camrys in the U.S. last year, outselling the Altima by nearly 40,000 units. Toyota has said it intends to sell at least 360,000 units this year.

Nissan overtook the second-place Honda Accord last year.

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