Quote:
Originally posted by ChuckH:
Oops, I had thought it was less than a year they had, but two years is still pretty fast for a new model! In the end, it was a super move by Nissan. The Xterra was well received, won SUV of the year by MT, and it suffered from no first year blues due to the proven parts used to build it.

That article states that the X probably won't be the vehicle that saves Nissan. Boy were they wrong! When the Xterra first came out Nissan couldn't keep them in stock. When I bought mine the only choices on XE's with automatics or even fewer red SE's with manuals. Prices were high too! If I wanted yellow it was a three month wait! The Xterra totally surpassed Nissans expectations in sales and it really was the beginning of the revival of Nissan!
Agree completely. If you're into automotive history or at least a fan of Nissan I think you'll look back at the introduction of the Xterra as a huge turning point for the company and definately the silver lining around an otherwise bleak outlook for them. It's been up and up since the X was release with every single updated model being a success within it's class - including the 2nd gen X.

As far as where it's built - many if not most of the mainstream Japanese vehicles on the road (ahem Toyota's & Honda's) are built in the US. The costs of importing materials (which Japan does not have natural resources for), building, and then exporting Westernized vehicles from Japan is too cost prohibitive for the big 3 to do anymore. It's why Hundai just opened their first plant in the US - same global economy. The fact that it's made in the US has nothing to do with the products quality.

I think the poster above here who mentioned the fact that the Nissan plant is non-unionized has a good point. It's ironic I guess, but makes sense too. GM's single biggest expense is health care. In 20 years when Honda and Toyota and yes, Nissan, have to deal with aging employees, do not be surprised if either A) the price of their vehicles is no longer within the realm of affordablility, or more likely B) the quality of those vehicles is no longer superior to the 'domestic' alternatives.