Nissan Motor has announced plans to retool its U.S. assembly plant in Canton, Mississippi. The $500 million investment will include preserving and upskilling roughly 2,000 jobs.

The automaker will assemble electric vehicles for its Nissan and Infiniti brands starting in 2025., according to company officials. Nissan has now invested $4 billion in the facility and more than $13 billion in its U.S. manufacturing operations collectively. The company has outlined plans to invest $18 billion to expand its global electric vehicle fleet through 2030.

“Today’s announcement is the first of several new investments that will drive the EV revolution in the United States,” said Ashwani Gupta, chief operating officer, Nissan Motor Corporation, Ltd. “Nissan is making a strong investment in Canton’s future, bringing the latest technology, training and process to create a truly best-in-class EV manufacturing team.”

The Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant will become a center for U.S. EV production, according to company officials. Nissan is transforming the location with the latest in EV manufacturing technology to support production of two all-new, all-electric vehicles. Canton is celebrating 19 years of manufacturing operations in 2022. The plant, which currently builds four models, employs approximately 5,000 people and has built nearly 5 million vehicles since opening in 2003.

“For nearly two decades, Mississippians have kept our state at the forefront of the world’s automotive industry,” added Governor Tate Reeves. “The announcement that Nissan Canton is shifting some production to EVs further positions Mississippi as a leader in this crucial economic sector. We are a top state for automotive leaders, and this significant investment by Nissan in the Canton facility lets the world know that we are open for business and our workforce is ready to take on these in-demand jobs of the future.”

The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is providing assistance for building improvements, equipment installation and workforce training in support of the project. Madison County is providing assistance, as well. Additionally, Accelerate Mississippi is assisting Nissan with its upskilling, retraining, and community outreach efforts.

“Nissan is the cornerstone of the state’s automotive industry,” said MDA Interim Executive Director Laura Hipp. “Nearly 20 years after opening its Canton facility, Mississippians continue to produce award-winning vehicles for this global automotive leader. Nissan’s decision to produce electric vehicles in the state once again places Mississippi in the global spotlight, demonstrating the pride our workforce takes in a job well done and its commitment to lasting success. MDA is proud to have played a role in this project, and we thank our partners at the Madison County Economic Development Authority and The Madison County Board of Supervisors for working with our team to ensure this economic win for Central Mississippi.

Today’s announcement supports Nissan Ambition 2030, calling for 23 electrified models for the Nissan and Infiniti brands globally, including 15 all-electric vehicles, by 2030. The company has set the goal to achieve carbon neutrality across the company’s global operations and the life cycle of its products by 2050 by pursuing further innovations in electrification and manufacturing technology. As part of this effort, Nissan is targeting 40 percent of its U.S. vehicle sales volume to be fully electric by 2030, with even more to be electrified.