Renault's compact new plant is built on open land near Curitiba, in the southern state of Parana.

ECONOMIST: Double parked

Mercedes-Benz, owned by Daimler AG, is investing heavily in Hungary to build a production plant to manufacture compact cars.

FORBES: Daimler Rides Out European Woes By Shifting Compact Car Production To Hungary

The result is surprisingly compact facilities like the engine plant in Durham that crank out billions of dollars worth of products each year.

FORBES: GE Keeps Manufacturing Jobs In US -- For Highly Skilled

In Brazil, the automaker hopes to double the sales in the next two years with the help of a new manufacturing plant that will kick off production of its compact car Etios in September.

FORBES: Toyota Targets Developing Countries En Route To $90

Mr. Dodge added that he wants the car, which is made at a Nissan plant in Mexico, to grab 10% of the compact market "within two to three years, " up from the high single-digit percentages currently.

WSJ: Nissan Plans to Pass Honda in U.S.

BARCELONA, Spain (May 23, 2012) - Today Nissan announced that a 100% electric compact van, the e-NV200, will go into production at its Barcelona plant in the 2013 Financial Year.

ENGADGET: Nissan announces e-NV200 all-electric van, production slated for 2013

The plant will have a capacity of 250, 000 units, and will be primarily used to manufacture compact cars like the Fit.

FORBES: Weaker Yen And U.S. Sales Will Fuel Honda's Earnings