Bloomberg. Nissan said that it will begin building a hybrid version of its Altima sedan at a US plant starting in late 2006.

Nissan thus will become  the second Japanese carmaker, after Toyota,  to produce hybrid vehicles in the world’s largest auto market.

The company will use either the  Smyrna, Tenn., or Canton, Miss., factory (which currently make the conventional gasoline version).  The hybrid will be a 2007 model.

More details as they come.

(A tip of the hat to Jack Rosebro!)