TOKYO (AP) - Japan's Nissan Motor Company today launched a new mini wagon in Japan in an effort to beef up its domestic vehicle lineup. The automaker is pushing to return to solid overall sales growth.

Nissan posted a profit decline last fiscal year for the first time in seven years as sales in the US and Japan slumped.

Nissan's North American operations are based in Nashville and the carmaker has US plants in Smyrna, Decherd (DECK'-urd) and in Canton, Mississippi.

Mitsubishi Motors will produce the Clipper Rio for Nissan, Japan's third-biggest auto maker by sales volume.

Nissan consigns all of its mini vehicle production to Mitsubishi and Suzuki Motor Corporation.

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