Nissan Frontier named “Coolest Thing Made in Mississippi”

Special to The Canton News 

The Nissan Frontier has been named the "Coolest Thing Made in Mississippi" for winning the 2025 Mississippi Makers’ Challenge hosted by the Mississippi Manufacturers Association. The award recognizes the Frontier for its craftsmanship and innovation. The vehicle is manufactured at Nissan’s Canton facility and is powered by engines built at Nissan’s powertrain plant in Decherd, Tennessee. 

“The rugged appearance, strong V6 engine, and capability are what makes the Frontier super cool. However, it is Nissan employees’ dedication and passion that make our vehicles really stand out,” said David Johnson, senior vice president, Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management and Purchasing, Nissan Americas. “Their hard work has made the Frontier a great product, and we are proud to be part of Mississippi’s vibrant manufacturing community.”

This year’s competition received seventy nominations for Mississippi’s manufacturers, highlighting the diversity in the state’s manufacturing sector. The Frontier advanced through four competitive rounds of public voting to claim the top spot with more than forty one percent of the vote in the final round. 

“The craftsmanship from Canton employees ensures that our vehicles perform at their very best - making it a reliable, versatile and capable truck,” said Victor Taylor, vice president, Manufacturing, Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant, Nissan U.S. “Our pride in what we do shines through in every Frontier that rolls off the assembly line, and this recognition celebrates our employees’ efforts and commitment.”

The award was presented during a ceremony at the Mississippi State Capitol. The event honored the top four finalists and celebrated the state’s manufacturing industry.

The 2025 Nissan Frontier features a refreshed design, higher towing capacities and updated technology. All grades sport a new front fascia, grille and bumper, along with a telescopic steering wheel for better driver accommodation. The long-wheelbase, six-foot-bed configuration is now available on more models, including PRO-4X and SL grades, with towing ratings increased to a maximum of 7,160 pounds.

Additional updates include a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen on SV grades and higher, a striking Afterburn Orange paint option (PRO-X/PRO-4X only), and a new 17-inch wheel design. Safety and driver assistance technologies such as lane departure warning, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, rear parking sensors, high beam assist, and intelligent cruise control are now standard.

The 2025 Frontier also comes with the Nissan Maintenance Care program, offering three pre-paid oil changes for up to two years or 24,000 miles.

Since 1951, the Mississippi Manufacturers Association (MMA) has been the clear and united voice of industry in the Magnolia State. In its fourth year, the MMA Mississippi Makers' Challenge begins with a two-week nominating period, followed by four rounds of voting. The contest is an opportunity to celebrate the workforce in Mississippi and rally around the amazing products that are built here. For further details on the Nissan Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant, visit NissanManufacturing.com.