Nissan Mexico Hits 95% Clean Energy in Car Manufacturing

A major automaker just proved that building cars and protecting the planet can go hand in hand.

Nissan Mexicana announced it now powers over 95% of its Mexican manufacturing operations with clean energy sources. The company has already assembled 3.6 million vehicles using carbon-free electricity, with 2.3 million of those running entirely on renewable power.

The transformation happened through a combination of smart changes. Nissan replaced harmful refrigerant gases with ozone-friendly alternatives and tapped into electricity from the Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant. The company also built a solar farm at its A2 facility in Aguascalientes and installed panels throughout the plant to work alongside LED lighting systems.

Those solar panels alone cut 100,000 kilograms of CO₂ emissions each year. That's the same as planting 1,600 new trees.

The company's two Aguascalientes plants earned Low Carbon certification from the state government in November 2025. Nissan Mexicana now ranks in the global top 10 within the Nissan group for energy efficiency, measuring CO₂ emissions per vehicle produced.

Numbers tell the success story clearly. The company avoided releasing 918,000 metric tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere, with renewable energy preventing 611,758 tons directly. Indirect emissions dropped by 17.7%, while direct emissions fell 8.8%.

Water conservation joined the environmental wins. Rainwater harvesting systems at both plants now capture and reuse 464,000 cubic meters of water. The A2 plant operates under a Zero Discharge model, recycling 100% of treated wastewater for irrigation and facility needs.

The Ripple Effect

The environmental improvements created unexpected community benefits. Nissan employees launched a program in 2016 collecting plastic bottles for recycling, with proceeds funding cancer treatment for over 50 low-income children in Aguascalientes through the Mexican Association for Helping Children with Cancer.

The company also dedicates a percentage of each vehicle sale toward building schools. To date, Nissan has constructed 126 schools across Mexico, serving approximately 58,000 elementary students.

Recent reforestation efforts added 1,750 native trees in Tianguistenco-Xalatlaco, bringing the company's nationwide total past 18,000 trees. The Mexican Center for Philanthropy recognized these environmental and social commitments by awarding Nissan the Distintivo ESR (Socially Responsible Business) honor for the third straight year in 2025.

"When employees, companies, government and society work together, we can drive environmental improvements," said Gabriela García, Senior Manager of Sustainability at Nissan Mexicana.

Clean energy in manufacturing just became the new normal for one of Mexico's biggest automakers, proving industry can lead the way toward a healthier planet.