Nissan Will Move Murano Production to U.S.

Nissan Motor Co. says it will relocate production of its Murano crossover vehicle from Japan to Canton, Miss., next year.

The shift will coincide with the debut of the next-generation model in late 2014. The Murano concept Nissan plans to unveil next week at the Detroit auto show is expected to be a near-production version of the new design.

The Murano will join two other American-made Nissan models the Rogue small crossover and Leaf electric sedan that previously were imported from Japan. Nissan also opted last year to build its all-new Infiniti JX large crossover at its plant in Smyrna, Tenn.

CEO Carlos Ghosn has pledged to continue relocating production from Japan to local markets offset the profit-eroding effect of Japan's strong yen.

Last year Nissan said it aims to locally produce 85% of the vehicles it markets in North America by 2015 compared with 69% now. The company sold about 1.1 million vehicles in the U.S. in 2012.