Automotive Manufacturing in Mississippi

The Magnolia State has been a key player in the automobile manufacturing industry since Nissan established its 5 million-square-foot assembly plant in Canton in 2003. Nissan has invested significantly in the facility since its opening, and now, the company is gearing up to begin production of electric vehicles at the plant. In 2022, the automotive giant announced it was investing $500 million to partially convert the plant to begin production of two all-new, all-electric vehicles – positioning Mississippi to welcome more EV manufacturers to shovel-ready sites throughout the state.

Since the opening of Nissan Canton nearly 20 years ago, other industry-leading automotive companies have established operations in the state. Toyota and PACCAR have locations in Mississippi, along with a host of automobile suppliers. Mississippi also is home to three of the nation’s largest tire makers, Continental Tire, Yokohama Tire and Cooper Tire.

Over half a million vehicles are produced in-state annually, including nine globally recognized models. Mississippi is also a right-to-work state, with a low cost of living and other incentives available for manufacturers.

More than 200 employers in the auto industry employ more than 15,000 Mighty Mississippians on a daily basis. Pair that with Mississippi State University’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, University of Mississippi’s Haley Barbour Center for Manufacturing Excellence and several technical colleges that offer customized training to meet companies’ needs, and you have a winning combination for advanced automobile manufacturing.