Nissan to Open U.S.-Based Electric Car Assembly Plant

To help it reach this goal, the company will be producing the Leaf in a new U.S. factory. The new factory will produce the Lithium-ion batteries and complete Leaf automobile assemblies, and will be located in one of Nissan's existing haunts in the U.S. -- Smyrna Tennessee.

If Nissan is successful in getting an all-electric vehicle into mass hands by producing a normal-looking, compact vehicle, could U.S. automakers feel the pinch? Already, GM's Volt is coming to compete, but the pricing delta between that unreleased product and the Leaf could be huge. If it's huge, customers may leave the Volt in the dust. After all, aren't cars becoming mere commodities to a whole new generation of drivers -- those who don't have allegiance to any carmaker?

Nissan's attempt to gain acceptance to the new breed of car buyer could prove fruitful to the Japanese company while stamping down U.S. automaker GM and Chrysler (both private companies at this time). Ford Motor Company (F) has made many of the right moves recently, but even its efforts towards a mass-production, all-electric car aren't well known. And that could help suppress F shares just as the company's incredible turnaround under CEO Alan Mulally is taking hold.