Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn returned to the automaker’s Iwaki factory Monday, a little more than one year after a devastating earthquake temporarily crippled production.

Ghosn, touring the plant he last visited in May 2011, described Iwaki’s recovery as miraculous.

“It has been remarkable. The plant has produced 300,000 engines this year, even though these events have happened,” Ghosn told the Global Media Center.

It is now a year since the tragic events of March 11, 2011, one of the darkest days in Japan’s recent history and a crisis that tested the spirit of the nation.

The magnitude-9 earthquake that struck the Tohoku region of northeast Japan, and the devastating tsunami that followed, left at least 20,000 people dead or missing, and among those casualties were five of our employees and 17 family members of staff.

Our Iwaki plant was some distance from the worst devastation and thankfully spared from loss of life, but still badly damaged.

Yokohama, Japan - April 26, 2011 - We at Nissan express our deepest sympathy to those individuals and families still suffering from the disaster.

Please see below for the latest update regarding our production status in Japan:

Production in April

- Production volume in April is expected to be slightly above 40% of the actual production volume in April last year.

Yokohama, Japan - April 8, 2011 - We at Nissan express our deepest sympathy to those individuals and families still suffering from the disaster.

Nissan is ready to resume normal operations based on delivery of parts from our suppliers. All plant will resume operation as follows:

Operation schedule

Vehicle Production Plants

    - Oppama Plant: resume operations from April 11
    - Tochigi Plant: resume operations from April 18
    - Kyushu Plant: resume operations from April 13
    - Nissan Shatai: resume operations from April 11
    - Nissan Shatai Kyushu: resume operations from April 13

We at Nissan express our deepest condolences to the victims of the earthquake, and extend our deepest sympathy to those individuals and families still suffering from the disaster. Nissan is committed to making all efforts to support the restoration of the areas impacted by the earthquake, with sincere hopes that relief and recovery progresses as quickly as possible. The following is an update to previous reports regarding the impact of the recent earthquake on Nissan and the facilities of our affiliated companies.

We at Nissan express our deepest condolences to the victims of the earthquake, and extend our deepest sympathy to those individuals and families still suffering from the disaster.

Nissan is committed to making all efforts to support the restoration of the areas impacted by the earthquake, with sincere hopes that relief and recovery progresses as quickly as possible.

Yokohama, Japan - March 20, 2011 - We at Nissan express our deepest condolences to the victims of the earthquake, and extend our deepest sympathy to those individuals and families still suffering from the disaster. Nissan is committed to making all efforts to support the restoration of the areas impacted by the earthquake, with sincere hopes that relief and recovery progresses as quickly as possible.

Renault has launched an emergency campaign to come to the aid of those hit by the disaster in Japan.

The company will donate €500,000 to the Red Cross and will enable those of its employees wishing to do so to make donations – promising to match the total.

Yokohama, Japan – March 16, 2011 – An update to previous reports regarding the impact of the recent earthquake on Nissan and the facilities of our affiliated companies.

Forecast on future production

Although all plants, except for the Iwaki engine plant, have been able to repair some damaged facilities and/or equipment, it is still taking time to arrange delivery of parts from our suppliers.

Forecasts on Production

As an update to previous reports regarding the recent earthquake’s impact to Nissan and our affiliates’ facilities, the following is the latest update on our manufacturing operations. Additionally, taking into account the severity of the situation, Nissan will make its utmost efforts to provide support to restoration activities.