<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" ?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>NISSAN PRESS RELEASE FOR 2009</title><link>http://www.nissanlcv.org/rss/rss_press_year.php</link><description>A Test RSS</description><language>en-us</language><pubDate>Sun, 05 Sep 2010 11:33:30 IST</pubDate><lastBuildDate>Sun, 05 Sep 2010 11:33:30 IST</lastBuildDate><docs>http://www.nissanlcv.com</docs><managingEditor>gcavallo@nissan-europe.com</managingEditor><webMaster>gcavallo@nissan-europe.com</webMaster><item><title>NISSAN NV200 IS THE INTERNATIONAL VAN OF THE YEAR 2010</title><link>http://www.nissanlcv.com/press_release.php?id=129</link><description>Rolle, Switzerland (November 16, 2009) - NV200, Nissan’s global all new small van, has been awarded the International Van of the Year (IVoY) 2010 by a jury consisting of 23 specialized European journalists representing a readership of more than half a million owners of commercial vehicles.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;\&quot;The Jury was particularly impressed by the fact that Nissan created a compact light commercial vehicle that sets new standards in terms of internal space in relation to the external dimensions\&quot;, said the official statement from the IVoY Jury. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;\&quot;We are delighted to receive the IVoY 2010 award as the recognition of Nissan\'s determination to create innovative light commercial vehicles that exceed customer expectations\&quot; said Andy Palmer, Senior Vice President, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. \&quot;The NV200 is a global vehicle that associates unmatched levels of functionality with unique and attractive design. We offer our customers a vehicle that is an efficient and reliable business tool\&quot; said Palmer.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The NV200 is a real segment breaker with exterior dimension comparable to a car derived van and cargo capacity of a higher class. It is 4.4m long, 1.86m, tall and 1.69m wide and comes with a cavernous cargo space. Intelligent packaging delivers a cargo load bay more than 2m in length, sufficient to carry two standard Euro pallets at the same time. The cargo floor lowest in its category, only 524mm. As a result, NV200\'s load cube offers a cargo volume of 4.2m3, around 25 per cent greater than competitor\'s average, offering additional 1m3. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The NV200 is available in Europe in Van and Combi versions and a passenger vehicle will join the line-up from 2010.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The NV200 is already sold in Japan, where it became instantly the segment leader, with over 40% market share. Sales in Europe start this month (start of sales varies by country). In 2010 it will be launched China and sales in other markets are in advanced study phase. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;NV200 will also be produced globally. It is already produced in Japan and production in Europe will start this month (initial supply for the European market will be sourced from Japan). Production in China is planned for 2010.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Recently Nissan announced that a light commercial vehicle based on the NV200 will be the second electric vehicle to be launched by Nissan.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Contact:&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Global Manager Communications&lt;BR&gt;Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. - LCV Business Unit&lt;BR&gt;(ph) +34 93 290&nbsp;8927&lt;BR&gt;(m)&nbsp;+34 628 900 255&nbsp;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href=\&quot;mailto:gcavallo@nissan-europe.com\&quot;&gt;gcavallo@nissan-europe.com&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;</description></item><item><title>ZHENGZHOU NISSAN LAUNCHES HIGH-END LCV NT400 CABSTAR IN CHINA</title><link>http://www.nissanlcv.com/press_release.php?id=130</link><description>&lt;P&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;GUANGZHOU (November 12, 2009)&lt;/STRONG&gt; – Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile Co., Ltd. (ZNA) today launched the all-new NT400 Cabstar, a high-end light commercial vehicle (LCV).&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The China-wide launch represents an expansion of the Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd. (DFL)-Nissan dual-brand LCV strategy in China. Through this, Nissan-branded vehicles serve the premium LCV market, while Dongfeng-branded vehicles meet general market volume needs. The NT400 Cabstar is the first Nissan-branded LCV model introduced since ZNA joined the DFL group four years ago.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The highly successful and award winning Cabstar, which dominates the COE segment in Europe and commands about 20% of the 1.5t segment in Japan as Atlas F24 (name of NT400 Cabstar in Japan), has been significantly re-engineered to meet the specific needs of the Chinese customer.&nbsp;&nbsp; Cabstar won the UK Van &amp; Light Truck Best Truck in 2007, \&quot;Good Design\&quot; Award 2008 in Japan and \&quot;The Best Logistic Recommended Equipment of 2009\&quot; in China.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;\&quot;With its high quality and advanced technology, NT400 Cabstar will satisfy many of the unmet needs of Chinese customers,\&quot; said Harumi Okazaki, vice president of DFL. \&quot;We believe this is the right time to launch Nissan’s global light duty truck in China, where the market is growing rapidly.\&quot;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;\&quot;The launch of Cabstar is a new milestone for ZNA to accelerate its unique dual-brand LCV strategy in China,\&quot; said Guo Zhenfu, general manager of ZNA. \&quot;Cabstar offers best-in-class quality, durability and reliability, along with the most economical total cost of ownership in the light duty truck segment.\&quot;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Cabstar is the first Nissan-branded vehicle built at Xiangfan LCV plant in Hubei province. Priced from RMB 139,800 (US$ 20,467) to RMB 152,800 (US$ 22,370), Cabstar will be sold through ZNA\'s network. The vehicle is powered by the locally made ZD30 diesel engine, and 15 variants are available.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;ZNA 2009 sales (January through October) totaled 44,626 units, an increase of 17% versus the same period last year. ZNA’s second plant will start operations in 2010 to provide additional capacity of more than 120,000 units per year. The company plans to launch the NV200 minivan next year to further strengthen the LCV business in China.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;U&gt;About Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd. (DFL)&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/U&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;DFL was established in 2003 as a result of a comprehensive, strategic partnership between Dongfeng Group and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. DFL is the first joint venture in China to have a full line-up of passenger vehicles, LCVs and H&amp;MCVs, and has grown faster than the total market in China. Registered capital of the company is RMB 16.7 billion (US$ 2.4 billion), the largest automotive joint venture investment in China, with Dongfeng and Nissan each holding a 50 percent stake.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;U&gt;About Zhengzhou Nissan AutomobileCo., Ltd. (ZNA)&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/U&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;ZNA is an affiliate company of DFL. Operations at ZNA include manufacturing and distribution of LCVs in China.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ###&lt;BR&gt;Note:&nbsp;&nbsp; Amounts in dollars are translated for the convenience of the reader at the foreign exchange rate of RMB 1 per USD 0.146.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>NISSAN RELEASES CONCEPT SKETCH OF LIGHT COMMERCIAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE</title><link>http://www.nissanlcv.com/press_release.php?id=133</link><description>Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., has released a concept sketch of a light commercial electric vehicle based on the newly launched NV200. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The low-cost multi-purpose vehicle would allow ambulance drivers to drive directly into the hospital or van and taxi drivers to enter urban areas where CO2 emissions are restricted.&nbsp; The van is one of four electric vehicles Nissan has announced for the future. At the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan, said LEAF - the world’s first affordable EV - will be launched in Japan, the US and Europe in late 2010 with global mass-marketing efforts to begin in 2012. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;At the show, Ghosn also announced plans to release a four-seater Infiniti electric compact car, as well as LandGlider, a totally new concept which combines the best of two- and four-wheel vehicles.&lt;BR&gt;</description></item><item><title>NV200: SPACIOUS AND FLEXIBLE</title><link>http://www.nissanlcv.com/press_release.php?id=128</link><description>&lt;P align=center&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Nissan’s compact NV200 brings news levels of space, comfort and practicality to the small van market. It also delivers greater levels of versatility as the LCV model is just one of three distinctly different variations on the theme to be sold globally: joining the van is a functional Combi version, and they will be joined by a comfortable Family version in 2010.&lt;/STRONG&gt; &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;\&quot;Europe\'s small van market is extremely competitive. To succeed, a van needs to be compact on the outside but roomy inside with a design that’s both stylish and practical. It needs to be affordable to buy and have low operating costs. It must to be easy to drive and it needs to be flexible. NV200 is all those things, but sets new standards for interior space in such a compact body.\&quot;&lt;BR&gt;Simon Thomas, Nissan’s European Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;At a glance&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;UL&gt;
&lt;LI&gt;Range of three practical vehicles 
&lt;UL&gt;
&lt;LI&gt;Roomiest cargo carrier in small van class 
&lt;LI&gt;Functional seven seat Combi version 
&lt;LI&gt;Comfortable seven seat Family model to follow&lt;/LI&gt;&lt;/UL&gt;
&lt;LI&gt;Sliding side doors for ease of entry 
&lt;LI&gt;Economical petrol and diesel engines 
&lt;LI&gt;Low cost of ownership 
&lt;LI&gt;Global model for multiple regions&lt;/LI&gt;&lt;/UL&gt;
&lt;P&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Overview&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;New from the ground up, the NV200 reinvents Nissan’s approach to this sector of the LCV market by setting new standards for interior cargo space, but packaged in extremely compact exterior dimensions. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Those compact exterior dimensions – 4.4m long, 1.86m, tall and 1.69m wide – coupled with agile driving dynamics and a tight turning circle make it ideal for the city. As a business tool NV200 benefits from Nissan’s enviable reputation as a trusted maker of successful commercial vehicles. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Built on a modified version of Nissan’s flexible B-platform, NV200 is designed to be agile around town, with a commanding driving position and good visibility. Despite its compact exterior dimensions, intelligent packaging delivers a cargo load bay more than 2m in length, sufficient to carry two standard Euro pallets at the same time. Thanks to a low floor, the load cube offers a cargo volume of 4.2m&lt;SUP&gt;3&lt;/SUP&gt;, around 25 per cent greater than its key rivals, which equates to around 1m&lt;SUP&gt;3&lt;/SUP&gt;.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Designed in Japan with an emphasis on class-leading quality and with key contributions from Nissan’s European R&amp;D and design facilities, NV200 is a true global offering. In Europe it’s an innovative segment-busting vehicle straddling two market segments. It’s available both as a light commercial vehicle (LCV) and as a passenger car providing almost as much interior space as much larger LCVs in a package no bigger than rival car-derived vans (CDV). &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Combi version of NV200 offers three rows of seats for passengers with&nbsp; outstanding leg and knee room, while even with all seven seats in use there’s still space for two large suitcases in the luggage area. Fold the two rear seats away and there’s enough space for five such suitcases. A more comfort orientated Family version will follow in 2010.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Practical touches include the availability of twin sliding side doors and, on the van version, a pair of side-hinged ‘French’ rear doors. The Combi is available with an estate-car style top-hinged tailgate. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Initial production for Europe will come from the Nissan Shatai plant in Japan, before production moves to the company’s plant in Barcelona at the end of 2009.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Power comes from either a 1.6-litre petrol unit with 81 kW/153Nm or a 1.5-litre diesel developing 63 kW/200 Nm. A higher output diesel engine will follow.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;EM&gt;\&quot;Customers will appreciate the NV200 as a tool which supports them in their business. We believe it brings a new intelligence to the market,\&quot; says Simon Thomas, Nissan\'s Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing in Europe. \&quot;Innovative packaging ideas have created a vehicle with a large cargo area despite a comparatively small footprint.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/EM&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;EM&gt;\&quot;The option of a Combi version further underlines NV200\'s versatility. NV200 is totally in tune with customers\' needs,\&quot; adds Thomas.&lt;/EM&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;A href=\&quot;http://www.nissaneurope-newsbureau.com/nissanmedia/front?controller=SubRubrik&amp;id=nissan_europe_press_room_10772091931250/products_10772871443121/light_commercial_vehicles_11122850642461544/press_kits_11122850980561546&amp;pubId=nv____press_kit_1252834227550246\&quot; target=_blank&gt;DOWNLOAD THE NV200 PRESS KIT&lt;/A&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>NISSAN NV200 IS 'VAN OF THE YEAR 2010' ACCORDING TO ITM</title><link>http://www.nissanlcv.com/press_release.php?id=136</link><description>&lt;P&gt;• Prestigious title of ITM Van of the Year 2010 goes to Nissan\'s innovative new NV200&lt;BR&gt;• The Institute of Transport Management (ITM) praises the NV200’s versatility, fuel efficiency and value&lt;BR&gt;• Ground-breaking van offers 54mpg and CO2 emissions of only 137g/km&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;A winning combination of value and versatility has made Nissan\'s NV200 unbeatable in the eyes of the Institute of Transport Management (ITM). Crowning the new model as the Van of the Year 2010, the ITM has confirmed that there is simply no other LCV to beat the NV200.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;And it\'s easy to see why judges were so taken with the recently launched model. Many small family cars will struggle to match the Nissan\'s thrifty fuel economy and CO2 emissions, and it\'s clear the NV200 has broken the mould in the small van sector, combining the attributes of a conventional commercial vehicle and a traditional people carrier.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Offering space, comfort and a high level of functionality, the NV200 seats up to seven people while retaining significant storage capacity and comfort for passengers. With innovative folding seat systems, the Nissan offers huge versatility and rivals the practicality offered by both commercial vehicle and MPV rivals.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;But don\'t think for a second that this is a Nissan that doesn\'t look after the driver too. Comfort and convenience will meet the expectations of van and car owners alike, while the option of a rear view parking camera adds convenience and safety to the NV200 package.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Thanks to its ultra-frugal 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine the thrifty van manages 54mpg while emitting only 137g/km of CO2, helping to reduce its impact on both the environment and fuel bills.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Commenting on the Award, ITM Media and PR Director Mr. Patrick Sheedy said: \&quot;With the NV200, Nissan is really opening up a new niche in the market, a crossover between commercial and passenger vehicles which will challenge the grip of the MPV on the vehicle market for working families. It’s perfectly pitched – spacious inside yet compact enough to retain a good level of agility in an urban environment; sleekly styled with a comfortable interior; and – most importantly for those on a tight household budget –cost-effective. Looking at the specifications of this vehicle and the offerings currently on the market, we at the Institute are confident that the NV200 is set to make a big impact.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;\&quot;It is my pleasure, therefore, to announce the accreditation of Nissan\'s NV200 with the \'Van of the Year Award 2010\'. Congratulations to everyone at Nissan who contributed to the design, production and marketing of this vehicle. I look forward to witnessing its success in the market over the coming year.\&quot;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The first Nissan LCV in seven years to be designed, engineered and manufactured in house, the NV200 displays the forward thinking approach to quality engineering which is at the core of all new Nissan models. Nissan’s LCV sales and marketing director, Francis Bleasdale comments: “We\'re delighted with such a high-level endorsement for what we know is a truly ground-breaking entry into the LCV market. This sets the scene for a very successful 2010 for the NV200.”&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>RENAULT NISSAN - A NEW STEP FORWARD FOR THE ALLIANCE </title><link>http://www.nissanlcv.com/press_release.php?id=127</link><description>&lt;UL&gt;
&lt;LI&gt;Ten years into the Alliance, Renault and Nissan are taking cooperation to a higher level. 
&lt;LI&gt;In 2009, identified synergies will contribute €1.5 billion (&yen;180 billion&lt;SUP&gt;1&lt;/SUP&gt;) in free cash flow to the Alliance partners. 
&lt;LI&gt;A small, dedicated team has been set up to foster deeper, broader cooperation and to maximize the contribution of synergies to the performance of both partners. &lt;/LI&gt;&lt;/UL&gt;
&lt;P&gt;&lt;EM&gt;&amp;nbsp;\&quot;Over the last decade, we used the Alliance to develop win-win synergies between Renault and Nissan, and that approach worked well when both were profitable and growing,” says Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. &amp;nbsp;“Today, we have to move faster. Seeking synergies is no longer optional, but mandatory. &amp;nbsp;We have assigned a group of experts to focus on building greater synergies to get us through the crisis and position us competitively for the future.\&quot;&lt;/EM&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Since 1999, Renault and Nissan have achieved and developed an alliance that has created significant value for the two companies. The achievements include shared platforms and powertrains, cooperation on advanced technologies, standardization of manufacturing methods, the expansion of the product line-ups and the extension of the global footprint of each partner. Combined vehicle sales have increased from 4.9 million units in 1999 to 6.9&amp;nbsp;million in 2008 (including Avtovaz), making the Renault-Nissan Alliance the world’s third-largest automotive group. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In the current economic environment, cooperation between the two companies will accelerate. The target set for 2009 is €1.5 billion in synergies evenly divided between the two Alliance partners. These synergies can be analyzed as follows:&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;-&lt;/STRONG&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Manufacturing and logistics&lt;/STRONG&gt; are expected to account for €363 million of total synergies. The Alliance partners will continue to share manufacturing facilities to benefit from local industrial opportunities, manufacture in local currencies and optimize existing plant capacity. In 2009, for example, Renault’s plant in Brazil will produce two additional Nissan vehicles while Nissan’s plant in South Africa builds two additional Renault vehicles. By the end of 2009, a total of 11 vehicles will be cross-manufactured. In Logistics, further savings will be generated in both inbound and outbound logistics by sharing additional CKD centers, vehicle components and standardizing logistics flows, particularly in Europe.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;- Powertrains&lt;/STRONG&gt; will generate €289 million of total synergies. The Alliance partners will boost cooperation from the exchange of engines to the co-ownership of engine families, generating savings on development, purchasing and manufacturing costs. One example is the development by Renault of new small, turbo-charged gasoline engines from Nissan’s engine base. So far, some 50% of powertrain components are shared.&amp;nbsp; &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;- Vehicle engineering&lt;/STRONG&gt; represents €279 million of total synergies through the use of common platforms and interchangeable components. Common and shared platforms currently account for 70% of the Alliance’s production volume. For example, Renault and Nissan plan to use a common platform for an entry-level project in India. The use of interchangeable components on Renault and Nissan vehicles is a growing source of savings. For instance, a single core component in air conditioning systems will be used on 24 body variants on the B and C platforms. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;- Purchasing&lt;/STRONG&gt; synergies will generate savings of €157 million. Since April 2009, the Renault-Nissan Purchasing Organization has handled 100% of the Alliance’s purchasing requirements. To date, the focus has been on parts and raw materials, but the scope is being expanded to purchased services. Synergy examples include brake sourcing opportunities and increasing Nissan’s sourcing in Korea to leverage the Renault/Samsung supplier network. Further savings are expected as the two companies reduce the diversity of their parts range. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;- Sales and marketing synergies&lt;/STRONG&gt; represent €147 million of total synergies. In media buying, for example, a single company now handles both Renault’s and Nissan’s accounts in Europe.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;- Research and advanced technology&lt;/STRONG&gt; is expected to bring cost savings of €115 million, as the two companies coordinate efforts to avoid overlaps and improve resource allocation. For example, both Renault and Nissan’s electric vehicles will be equipped with jointly developed batteries.&amp;nbsp;Renault\'s fuel cell vehicle, presented last year, uses Nissan\'s fuel cell technology.&amp;nbsp;The two companies will also pool their efforts in technologies related to CO2 emissions, life on board, safety and dynamic performance.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;- Light commercial vehicles&lt;/STRONG&gt; account for €102 million of identified synergies. For example, the two partners recently agreed to move to one common platform in Europe to build two differentiated light commercial vehicles. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;- Information systems and support functions&lt;/STRONG&gt; account for €48 million of identified synergies. In Europe, the two partners will intensify the use of available common internal resources in IS/IT. The two partners will further consolidate their data network infrastructure. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Today, the Alliance gives Renault and Nissan a unique competitive advantage in a sector hit by the global economic crisis. To maximize the know-how gained from 10 years of cross-cultural management and shared experience, the Alliance has set up a small dedicated team of six persons from Nissan and five from Renault. Beginning June 1, they will apply their in-depth understanding of both companies to foster synergies at all levels and push for greater commonization and standardization, not just in 2009 but well into the future. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;This dedicated Alliance team will focus on the following areas identified as priorities: Purchasing, Global Sourcing, Common Platforms and Parts, Powertrains, Support Functions, Global Logistics, IS/IT, Research and Advanced Technologies, and Zero Emission Business.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Alliance has been a tool for better performance, based on the trust and confidence gained through 10 years of working together. Accelerating synergies and supporting them with a dedicated organization will help both companies weather the current crisis and emerge as stronger and more competitive global companies. &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;&lt;SUP&gt;1&lt;/SUP&gt;Exchange rate&amp;nbsp;: &yen;120/euro&lt;/P&gt;
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&lt;TD style=\&quot;PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; PADDING-LEFT: 3px; PADDING-RIGHT: 3px; PADDING-TOP: 3px\&quot;&gt;Website: &lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href=\&quot;http://www.media.renault.com/\&quot; target=_blank&gt;www.media.renault.com&lt;/A&gt; &lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href=\&quot;http://www.renault.com/\&quot; target=_blank&gt;www.renault.com&lt;/A&gt;&lt;/TD&gt;
&lt;TD style=\&quot;PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; PADDING-LEFT: 3px; PADDING-RIGHT: 3px; PADDING-TOP: 3px\&quot;&gt;Website:&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href=\&quot;http://press.nissan-global.com/EN/\&quot; target=_blank&gt;http://press.nissan-global.com/EN/&lt;/A&gt; &lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href=\&quot;http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/IR/\&quot; target=_blank&gt;http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/IR/&lt;/A&gt;&amp;nbsp;(IR)&lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;&lt;/TBODY&gt;&lt;/TABLE&gt;&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>NISSAN RELEASES NEW-GENERATION NV200 VANETTE COMPACT VAN</title><link>http://www.nissanlcv.com/press_release.php?id=126</link><description>&lt;P&gt;TOKYO (May 19, 2009) – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that the all-new Nissan NV200 Vanette, a next-generation light duty compact van, will go on sale at Nissan dealers across Japan on May 21. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Ideally suited for commercial, daily use and leisure activities, the NV200 Vanette is designed to revolutionize the traditional concept of light commercial vehicles in Japan.&amp;nbsp; Along with distinctive styling, advanced functionality and class-leading fuel efficiency, it combines a cavernous cargo space with a compact overall vehicle size.&amp;nbsp; Along with two-seat and five-seat versions, a new seven-passenger compact segment wagon version – capable of being utilized for both commercial and private use – has been added to the lineup.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Following its debut in Japan, the NV200 Vanette will be launched in other markets around the world.&amp;nbsp; Nissan will continue to sell the current versions of the diesel, 4WD and truck models.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;U&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Qualified for the preferential tax breaks&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/U&gt;Powering the NV200 Vanette is a newly adopted 1.6-liter HR16DE gasoline engine, which combines outstanding environmental friendliness with impressive driving performance.&amp;nbsp; The NV200 Vanette achieves best-in-class fuel economy of 14.0 km/liter&lt;SUP&gt;*1&lt;/SUP&gt;.&amp;nbsp; Van models qualify for tax breaks under the preferential tax scheme&lt;SUP&gt;*2&lt;/SUP&gt; implemented on April 1, 2009 to encourage the acceptance of eco-friendly vehicles.&amp;nbsp; The automobile acquisition tax and the automobile weight tax are reduced by 75% on the automatic transmission-equipped models and by either 50% or 75%&lt;SUP&gt;*3&lt;/SUP&gt; on the manual transmission-equipped models.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Nissan collectively refers to models that qualify for these preferential tax breaks as the Nissan ECO Series (NECO Series), which also includes mini-vehicles and light commercial vehicles.&amp;nbsp; Nissan hopes to stimulate consumer demand for eco-friendly vehicles by offering customers a broad selection of products to choose from.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;U&gt;A Dynamic, Distinctively Different Exterior Design&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/U&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;Unlike most current commercial vehicles, the new NV200 Vanette offers styling that is both functional and attractive.&amp;nbsp; The exterior design dynamically blends a large, square cargo area with a uniquely sporty front end.&amp;nbsp; Combining sharpness and elegance, the NV200 Vanette’s low, wedge-shaped waistline contributes to superior driver visibility, while also providing a truly unique appearance that is instantly recognizable as something new and fresh in the category.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;The front-end is widely rounded with sharp and distinctive design. In the rear, the high roofline and low, flat cargo floor help to create class-leading cargo capacity.&amp;nbsp; The NV200 Vanette can be configured as a two-seater with one row of seats to create an even larger cargo area.&amp;nbsp; The cargo area of the two-seater models is large enough to accommodate \&quot;meter module materials\&quot; (2,000 x 100 x 44 mm) that are used for construction.&amp;nbsp; Moreover, using the space under the front passenger\'s seat makes it possible to carry items up to three meters in length.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;In addition to the two-seater version, the NV200 Vanette is also offered in a five-seater version with two rows of seats, and the new seven-seater wagon, which is capable for being used for both commercial and private purposes.&amp;nbsp; The second- and third-row seats in the wagon fold up to create a large cargo space suitable for multipurpose use.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;U&gt;An Airy, Comfortable Interior&lt;/U&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The NV200 Vanette\'s low waistline endows the interior with an open, airy ambience.&amp;nbsp; A high eye-point gives the driver excellent forward visibility, while the steering wheel is tilted at an angle to allow a car-like driving position.&amp;nbsp; The two-level instrument panel aesthetically blends a variety of surfaces, lines and materials to project a rich, high-quality feeling.&amp;nbsp; The driver\'s seat slides fore-aft 190 mm and has a large shape for exceptional comfort. &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Available flush-fit sliding side windows provide comfortable ventilation in the second-row seats (a factory-installed option).&amp;nbsp; Numerous storage compartments ensure ample capacity for easily and conveniently storing various small items.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;U&gt;Driving Performance That Is Both Enjoyable and Eco-friendly&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/U&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;The new NV200 Vanette\'s standard HR16DE engine incorporates variable valve timing which, combined with an expanded lock-up operation range of the four-speed automatic transmission, enables the NV200 Vanette to deliver best-in-class fuel economy of 14.0 km/liter&lt;SUP&gt;*1&lt;/SUP&gt;.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Thanks to the adoption of an air-fuel ratio sensor, catalyst improvements and other refinements, the NV200 Vanette achieves exhaust emissions under the JC08H + JC08C test mode that are 75% lower than the levels required by Japan\'s 2005 exhaust emission regulations.&amp;nbsp; The NV200 Vanette also complies with the specified standards of the designated low-pollution vehicle system adopted by The Eight Prefectures and Cities Low-Emission Vehicle Certification Scheme and the specified standards of the designated low-emission vehicle system adopted by Lev-7 Certification Scheme(7 prefectures and cities in Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe area).&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Pendulum engine mounts and an anti-vibration subframe are used to achieve quietness equal to that of passenger cars&amp;nbsp;- from idling to city driving and high-speed cruising.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;The NV200 Vanette\'s front suspension incorporates ripple-control shock absorbers with increased stiffness for reducing high-frequency vibrations.&amp;nbsp; A newly designed leaf-rigid suspension is used at the rear, providing high durability and contributing to the new van\'s outstanding cargo area efficiency.&amp;nbsp; As a result, the NV200 Vanette combines a feeling of solid stability on curves and at high speeds with supple ride comfort that minimizes harshness on uneven or rough road surfaces. &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;As part of its functionality supporting eco-driving by NV200 Vanette customers, standard on all models is a vehicle operating information display that shows real-time and average fuel consumption readouts.&amp;nbsp; In addition, manual transmission-equipped models come with an indicator that shows the optimum upshift timing.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;U&gt;Safety Technologies and Environmental Features&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/U&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;Among the long list of available safety and security features are: Rear View Monitor (factory-installed option); Optimum lighting with multi-reflector halogen headlights (with manual levelizer); Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) + Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) + Brake Assisthigh-strength Zone Body construction; compliance with side impact safety standards; a body designed to mitigate pedestrian injuries; SRS air bag system for the driver; SRS air bag system for the front passenger (standard on 16S; factory-installed option on DX/GX); and front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;The NV200 Vanette is over 95% recoverable (as calculated according to the guideline adopted by Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. in 1998 concerning the definition and calculation method of the recoverability rate: rate of new cars) and there has been a reduction in the use of interior volatile organic compounds (VOC).&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;U&gt;Pricing and Sales Targets&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/U&gt;Price range&lt;/STRONG&gt;: 1,572,900 yen to 1,899 ,450 yen (including consumption tax)&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Sales target&lt;/STRONG&gt;: 1,300 units/month (Japan)&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Related URL&lt;/STRONG&gt;: &lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href=\&quot;http://www.nissan.co.jp/NV200VANETTE/\&quot; target=_blank&gt;http://www.nissan.co.jp/NV200VANETTE/&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href=\&quot;http://www.nissanlcv.com/\&quot; target=_blank&gt;www.nissanlcv.com&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;* The photos in this news release can be downloaded at Nissan\'s press site (press.nissan-global.com).&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;&lt;SUP&gt;*1&lt;/SUP&gt; Measured under Japan\'s 10-15 test mode with Van GX models equipped with the automatic transmission.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;SUP&gt;&lt;BR&gt;*2&lt;/SUP&gt; For vehicles emitting 75% fewer emissions (SU-LEV) than the levels mandated by Japan\'s 2005 exhaust emission regulations and also achieving a 25% improvement in fuel economy over the 2010 fuel economy standards:&lt;BR&gt;75% reduction of the automobile acquisition tax on vehicles newly registered by March 31, 2012 and a 75% reduction of the automobile weight tax on vehicles newly registered by April 30, 2012. The automobile tax on vehicles newly registered by March 31, 2010 is reduced by 50% for one year starting from the next fiscal year following registration (excluding mini-vehicles).&lt;BR&gt;For SU-LEV certified vehicles that also improve fuel economy by 15% or 20% over the 2010 fuel economy standards:&lt;BR&gt;50% reduction of the automobile acquisition tax on vehicles newly registered by March 31, 2012 and a 50% reduction of the automobile weight tax on vehicles newly registered by April 30, 2012. The automobile tax on vehicles newly registered by March 31, 2010 is reduced by 25% for one year starting from the next fiscal year following registration (excluding mini-vehicles).&lt;BR&gt;These tax breaks do not apply to Autech models because they require on-site registration at a vehicle inspection and registration office.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;SUP&gt;*3&lt;/SUP&gt; For Van GX models equipped with a manual transmission and having a gross vehicle weight of 1,270 kg or more, both the automobile acquisition tax and the automobile weight tax are reduced by 75%.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;###&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The press photos can be downloaded from Nissan\'s media Website (&lt;A href=\&quot;http://press.nissan-global.com/en\&quot;&gt;http://press.nissan-global.com/en&lt;/A&gt;)&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Contact: &lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;Global Communications CSR and IR Division&lt;BR&gt;Tel: +81-(0)3-5565-2141(Corp)/2142(Products)/2334(IR)&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href=\&quot;http://press.nissan-global.com/EN\&quot; target=_blank&gt;http://press.nissan-global.com/EN&lt;/A&gt; (Press)&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href=\&quot;http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/IR/\&quot; target=_blank&gt;http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/IR/&lt;/A&gt; (IR)&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>NV200: NISSAN’S NEW GLOBAL VAN MAKES EUROPEAN DEBUT AT BARCELONA MOTOR SHOW</title><link>http://www.nissanlcv.com/press_release.php?id=124</link><description>&lt;P&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;ROLLE, Switzerland (May 7, 2009) &lt;/STRONG&gt;The van version of Nissan\'s global NV200 will premiere today at the Barcelona International Motorshow.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Initially, the NV200 will be assembled in Japan for the European market, until production starts at Nissan\'s plant in Barcelona in November 2009.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Sales of NV200 van and combi version will start from October 2009 in most European markets, while the Family version will be available in 2010.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;\&quot;We are delighted to display the Van version of NV200 at this year\'s Barcelona International Motor Show. It is a vehicle that will have a strong association with Barcelona once production starts at our factory here later this year,\&quot; said Simon Thomas, Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing, Nissan Europe. &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;NV200 uses innovative packaging ideas to create the largest and most practical cargo area in its class. Although a little under 4.4m in overall length, the van version of the NV200 has a load bay that\'s more than 2m long (2040mm). &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;With front-wheel drive and the adoption of a highly compact rear suspension system, the NV200 can house two standard Euro pallets in the cargo area at a time. At 1.84m high NV200 is no taller than its rivals, while at 520mm from ground level, the floor itself is the lowest in the class to ease loading, helping to boost the cargo volume to 4.1m3. Maximum payload is 771kg.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Performance comes from a choice of two engines, one petrol and one diesel.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;The petrol version will be powered by Nissan\'s renowned all aluminium 1.6-litre HR16 engine. Displacing 1,598cc, the 16-valve unit develops 79kW (108PS) and 153Nm of torque and is mated to a five-speed manual transmission.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;The diesel is Alliance partner Renault\'s acclaimed 8-valve 1.5 dCi (K9K) 1,461cc engine. Developing 200 Nm of torque and 63kW (86PS), it offers an ideal blend of performance, refinement and fuel economy. Power is transmitted through a five-speed gearbox.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;The NV200 is available with an optional rear view parking camera, a first for a van in this segment, while the cabin is full of storage spaces, pockets and cup/bottle holders. There is also a secret storage space large enough to hide camera, mobile phones or vital documents within the upper portion of the glovebox.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Joining the parking camera, other car-like items of standard or optional equipment include features such as Nissan\'s Intelligent Key, power windows and ESP. Safety equipment includes anti-lock brakes with brake assist (BA) and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) as standard. Driver and passenger airbags are also standard with side bags available as an option.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Cost of ownership is projected to be the lowest in class, thanks in part to the low running costs and high efficiency of the engines and drivetrains, plus the safety structure which helps to minimise crash damage to vulnerable under bonnet parts such as the radiator.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;The NV200 offers outstanding cargo space and class-leading cost of ownership. It also offers new references for performance for manoeuvrability, driveability and load accessibility as well as an attractive design. With these credentials, NV200 is the smartest choice for entrepreneurs who use their vehicles in a busy urban environment,\&quot; said Simon Thomas. &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;\&quot;The NV200 is suited to meet the particular unmet needs of our customers and will break the current segment references\&quot; concluded Thomas.&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>NISSAN RELEASES ALL-NEW GLOBAL VAN – NV200 VANETTE </title><link>http://www.nissanlcv.com/press_release.php?id=123</link><description>&lt;P&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;TOKYO (April 2, 2009)--&lt;/STRONG&gt; Nissan Motor Co.,Ltd.(NML) today announced the start of the pre-launch sales for the all-new NV200 van in Japan. Following its global debut at the 79th International Geneva Motor Show in March, Japan will be the first market to launch this next generation global van starting mid-May.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The compact NV200 Vanette will be offered in two configurations – the Van GX light commercial van and the Wagon 16S people carrier.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The NV200 Vanette* has been designed to meet the demands of a wide-range of customers for a functional and versatile vehicle that delivers great value-for-money. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The compact van combines intelligent layout and packaging to deliver a class-leading 4.1 cubic of loading space. The wagon is a seven-seater people carrier offering a more spacious interior with car-like comfort and features. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Powered by the 1.6L HR16DE petrol engine, the van also offers excellent driving performance without compromising fuel efficiency, for a low total cost of ownership.&amp;nbsp;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;EM&gt;&lt;FONT size=1&gt;* The name NV200 is derived from New generation for N, Vehicle for V, and 200 for its Van classification.&lt;BR&gt;Inheriting the current Vannete heritage, the name expresses the concept of the car which is a new-generation LCV that is designed for the needs of modern business.&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/EM&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; ###&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;For more information, please contact:&amp;nbsp;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.&lt;BR&gt;Global Communications and CSR Division&lt;BR&gt;Tel:+81-(0)3-5565-2141&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href=\&quot;http://press.nissan-global.com/EN\&quot; target=_blank&gt;http://press.nissan-global.com/EN&lt;/A&gt;&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>NISSAN INTRODUCES NV2500 CONCEPT AT NTEA</title><link>http://www.nissanlcv.com/press_release.php?id=121</link><description>&lt;P&gt;&amp;nbsp;- Concept van serves as \&quot;Rolling Idea Lab\&quot; &amp;nbsp;for Nissan\'s 2010 entry into North American commercial vehicle market -&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;CHICAGO (March 4, 2009)&amp;nbsp;-&lt;/STRONG&gt; Today, at the National Truck Equipment Association\'s annual Work Truck Show, Nissan is showcasing its innovative NV2500 Commercial Vehicle Concept.&amp;nbsp; The NV2500 Concept represents a fresh approach to one-box utility vans and is built to highlight Nissan\'s approach to multi-purpose utility solutions in the real world.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Not only does the NV2500 Concept provide an original take on Commercial Vehicle (CV) design, it also provides a preview of Nissan\'s entry into the CV market in North America.&amp;nbsp; With Nissan CVs already sold in 75 percent of the world\'s markets, including Japan, China, Mexico, Europe, South America, Australia and the Middle East among others, Nissan will enter the CV business in North America in 2010.&amp;nbsp; &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;\&quot;As a heretofore untapped market, the commercial vehicle segment in North America represents a strong opportunity for Nissan to grow and strengthen our business,\&quot; said Joe Castelli, vice president for commercial vehicles and fleet.&amp;nbsp;\&quot;With this new effort, Nissan will deliver innovative solutions to commercial transportation needs, rewarding businesses of all sizes with a range of products and services that exceed expectations.\&quot;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The CV lineup will include all-new products developed in North America, as well as vehicles from the global stable.&amp;nbsp; As a result, in the mid-term, Nissan will offer a multi-segment CV lineup up to class 5 gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR). &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The first of Nissan\'s new commercial vehicles for North America will be built at its manufacturing facility in Canton, Miss.&amp;nbsp; Construction begins this week on a $118 million expansion of Canton\'s production footprint to manufacture CVs. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;U&gt;About the NV2500 Concept&lt;/U&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;The Nissan NV2500 Concept is, as its dimensions suggest, a multi-tasker of large order.&amp;nbsp; One of the largest concept vehicles Nissan has ever produced, the NV2500 Concept, offers fresh design and fresh thinking&amp;nbsp;- including a 3-Zone interior and flexible utility and storage solutions. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;\&quot;The Nissan NV2500 is a rolling idea lab - bringing a new perspective to the commercial vehicle segment,\&quot; said Bruce Campbell, vice president, Design for Nissan Design America, Inc., which developed the NV2500 Concept.&amp;nbsp; \&quot;We see the NV2500 Concept as an ongoing exploration of ways to make these vehicles more than just a box on four wheels.&amp;nbsp; Our goal is to enhance utility through creative design solutions, providing a platform for a wide variety of specific professional applications.\&quot;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In this configuration, the Nissan NV2500 Concept is designed for construction use.&amp;nbsp; It bears the logo of Habitat for Humanity&reg; only to illustrate the partnership between Nissan and Habitat.&amp;nbsp; Over the past three years, Nissan has donated $3 million in cash, vehicles and house sponsorships, along with thousands of hours of work volunteered by Nissan employees.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The NV2500 Concept\'s \&quot;wall-less\&quot; mobile office/workspace design includes a computer workstation, fold-down conference table, numerous storage compartments, cargo/tool tie-down racks, nearly six feet of interior height and an awning-style side panel that opens to create a standing outside workshop table. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;U&gt;A Solid Workhorse Foundation&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/U&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;The NV2500 Concept is conceived first and foremost as a powerful, multi-purpose utility vehicle.&amp;nbsp; Built on a modified Nissan Titan full-size pickup all-steel, fully boxed ladder frame, engine choices would be selected for competitive power and fuel efficiency.&amp;nbsp; Other under-skin components include an automatic transmission and solid rear axle.&amp;nbsp; The wheels are a special 20-inch billet aluminum design, while the Michelin tires include a special tread pattern designed for a good payload capacity and fuel efficiency.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Dimensionally, the NV2500 Concept has a 147.6-inch (12.3-foot) wheelbase and measures a full 19.5 feet bumper-to-bumper.&amp;nbsp; It stands 8 feet tall and is 6.6 feet wide.&amp;nbsp; Inside, from the front of the passenger compartment to rear door, there is room to carry objects up to 10.5 feet long with the passenger seat moved out of the way.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The NV2500 Concept\'s exterior design is highlighted by a wide grille, pronounced wheel arches, stepped roofline, well-defined fenders and unique window and roof treatments.&amp;nbsp; Along with wraparound-style windshield/front door windows, the NV2500 Concept features lower door-glass cutouts and an oversized, fixed-glass roof panel that stretches from behind the B-pillars to the rear doors - adding a visual lightness to the design and illumination to the interior.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The NV2500 Concept\'s roof panel includes integrated solar panel technology to power interior equipment, lights and accessories.&amp;nbsp; Additional exterior features include large, retractable outside mirrors, motorized flip-down AMP Research side and rear door steps, LED headlights and taillights, and dual-purpose tow hooks located in the grille that also serve as steps for easier access to the engine compartment.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The most intriguing aspect of the exterior, however, is the multi-use doors.&amp;nbsp; On the driver\'s side, the Titan King Cab-style Wide Open Door offers unfettered access to the front of the vehicle, with integrated storage compartments for carrying items such as tool/safety vests, ear protection and first aid kit.&amp;nbsp; In the rear of the NV2500 Concept are vertical 60/40 split cargo access \&quot;barn\&quot; doors with additional storage compartments and power rear step for walk-through capability and easy access.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The passenger side features a combination of a 90-degree opening vertical door directly behind the front passenger door and an awning-style clamshell panel that hinges upward and locks in place, creating a protected, standing workshop table on the outside and an open “picture window” view from the fold-down interior work desk.&amp;nbsp; The passenger side door also has integrated workshop tool storage with fitted compartments for power saws, drills, screwdrivers and drafting equipment.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;\&quot;The entire rear wall of the NV2500 Concept opens up so, for example, the construction supervisor can see and communicate with associates without leaving the desk,\&quot; said Campbell.&amp;nbsp; \&quot;It also serves as an additional, flat workspace that is protected from the elements, providing unlimited flexibility for whatever task might arise\&quot;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;U&gt;An Innovative 3-Zone Interior&lt;/U&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;Inside the commanding NV2500 exterior is a 3-Zone interior that combines simple, organic solutions with elements of advanced technology.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;\&quot;The NV2500 Concept challenges the traditional thinking regarding show vehicles, not only in size but in its approach to technology,\&quot; said Campbell.&amp;nbsp; \&quot;Though it features a number of high-tech features such as a RearView Monitor, navigation system and wireless PC, wherever possible we also used \'lower-tech\' solutions such as the manually adjusting multi-position passenger/workstation seat and the double-sided workbench that manually converts from an inside table to an outside work surface.\&quot;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The NV2500 Concept\'s front Driver/Passenger Zone is anchored by a wide instrument panel with a customizable navigation/audio/climate display.&amp;nbsp; The instrument panel also has an accessory power outlet and a built-in retractable power cord.&amp;nbsp; Overhead is a full ceiling storage console with visor shelves, center shelves and a cooling fan that can be powered by the roof-mounted solar cells.&amp;nbsp; Located behind the driver\'s seat is a customizable, lighted storage closet designed to hold hardhats, flashlights and work boots&amp;nbsp;- complete with a mudroom-style grated floor for drainage.&amp;nbsp; &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Additional storage is provided in the center console\'s locking compartment and the instrument panel\'s floating shelf.&amp;nbsp; The wide, front-passenger seat can swing rearward on a sliding arm, manually moving and locking into position in front of the workstation console located behind the driver\'s seat or pivoting toward the work table.&amp;nbsp; The workstation includes an oversized computer monitor and computer with laser-projected \&quot;easy clean\&quot; &amp;nbsp;keyboard. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;\&quot;The passenger seat functions as both a traditional forward-facing seat and a comfortable, swiveling desk chair,\&quot; said Campbell.&amp;nbsp; \&quot;All elements of the interior are designed to be multi-functional and highly durable, able to stand up to the rigors of heavy use at a job site or other real world locations.\&quot;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;As fitting of a true work truck, the centerpiece of the NV2500 Concept is the third zone, the Conference Center/Cargo Bay Zone.&amp;nbsp; Dressed in its construction office configuration, this zone includes a fold-down inside/outside workshop table.&amp;nbsp; &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;With the awning-style side panel in the open position, the table can also flip 180 degree to become a standing-height work surface.&amp;nbsp; Lights on the awning illuminate the table.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Mounted in the ceiling above the side panel is a built-in laser blueprint printer.&amp;nbsp; The wall also includes 110/220W power outlets and areas for the built-in shop vacuum\'s air hoses.&amp;nbsp; The opposite wall is dominated by sustainable wood slats for tying down or securing cargo.&amp;nbsp; The engineered sustainable wood flooring includes a custom version of the Titan\'s popular Utili-track™ cargo tie-down/sliding cleat system.&amp;nbsp; The Utili-track channels run from rear door to front bulkhead on the passenger side of the vehicle.&amp;nbsp; There also are multi-position integrated tie-down hooks and functional task lighting throughout the cargo area. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;\&quot;The key to the NV2500 Concept\'s interior is ingenuity as much as innovation,\&quot; Campbell said.&amp;nbsp; \&quot;Every element needs to serve high-utility needs for multi-tasking users.\&quot;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;U&gt;About Nissan Commercial Vehicles (CV)&lt;/U&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;Nissan North America, Inc. is entering the CV business through a significant investment in North America as part of its global commitment to the CV segment. Nissan\'s first commercial vehicle for the United States will go on sale in 2010 for the 2011 model year. To further strengthen future commercial offerings, Nissan has formed partnerships with Cummins Inc. for the diesel engines and ZF Friedrichshafen AG for the transmissions for use in its North American vehicles. Additional information on Nissan\'s US commercial vehicle business can be found at &lt;A href=\&quot;http://www.nissancommercialvehicles.com/\&quot; target=_blank&gt;www.nissancommercialvehicles.com&lt;/A&gt;.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;U&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;About Nissan&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/U&gt;In North America, Nissan\'s operations include automotive design, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing.&amp;nbsp; Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling.&amp;nbsp; More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at &lt;A href=\&quot;http://www.nissanusa.com/\&quot; target=_blank&gt;www.NissanUSA.com&lt;/A&gt; and and &lt;A href=\&quot;http://www.infinitiusa.com/\&quot; target=_blank&gt;www.InfinitiUSA.com&lt;/A&gt;&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>NISSAN EXPANDS CANTON PLANT AS IT PREPARES TO BUILD COMMERCIAL VEHICLES</title><link>http://www.nissanlcv.com/press_release.php?id=119</link><description>&lt;STRONG&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Construction on pace for 2010 launch of North American commercial vehicle&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;CANTON, Miss. (March 4, 2009) –&lt;/STRONG&gt; Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today showed the initial construction work under way at its Canton plant as the company prepares to launch commercial vehicles (CV) for the North American market in 2010.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;\&quot;The expansion at our Canton plant represents a major step on the way to Nissan\'s entering the commercial-vehicle market in North America,” said Dan Bednarzyk, vice president, Manufacturing - Canton.&amp;nbsp; \&quot;We realize this initiative means growth for Nissan in the U.S. and we are proud these important products for the future of our company will be built here in Mississippi.\&quot; &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Beginning next year, Nissan\'s Canton plant will build CVs developed specifically for the North American market.&amp;nbsp; The company will invest $118 million to expand Canton\'s facilities to manufacture CVs.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Nissan began erecting steel for the expansion this weekend and plans to have construction completed late this year.&amp;nbsp; Changes to the plant include:&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;LI&gt;A 14,400 square foot expansion to Body Assembly shop 
&lt;LI&gt;Modification to 43,200 square feet of existing Body Assembly shop 
&lt;LI&gt;A 49,000 square foot expansion to Paint shop 
&lt;LI&gt;Modifications to 59,000 square feet of existing Paint shop 
&lt;LI&gt;New assembly line added in existing Trim &amp;amp; Chassis shop&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Canton Plant will start producing a CV for the North American market in 2010, in time for the 2011 model year.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Also today, Joe Castelli, NNA vice president for commercial vehicles and fleet, introduced the Nissan NV2500 Concept to media and attendees at the National Truck Equipment Association’s World Truck Show in Chicago. The NV2500 Concept provides an original take on commercial vehicle design and offers a preview of Nissan’s first entry into the CV market in North America.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;U&gt;About Nissan Commercial Vehicles&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/U&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;Nissan North America, Inc. is entering the CV business through a significant investment in North America as part of a global commitment to the CV segment. Nissan’s first commercial vehicle for the United States is scheduled to be launched in 2010. To further strengthen its commercial offerings, Nissan has formed partnerships with Cummins Inc. for diesel engines and ZF Friedrichshafen AG for transmissions for use in its North American vehicles. Additional information on Nissan Commercial Vehicles can be found at &lt;A href=\&quot;http://www.nissancommercialvehicles.com/\&quot; target=_blank&gt;www.nissancommercialvehicles.com&lt;/A&gt;.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;U&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;About Nissan&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/U&gt;In North America, Nissan\'s operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing.&amp;nbsp; Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling.&amp;nbsp; More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at &lt;A href=\&quot;http://www.nissanusa.com/\&quot; target=_blank&gt;www.NissanUSA.com&lt;/A&gt; and &lt;A href=\&quot;http://www.infinitiusa.com/\&quot; target=_blank&gt;www.InfinitiUSA.com&lt;/A&gt;.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; # # #&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Contact Information:&lt;BR&gt;Steve Parrett&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;Corporate Communications&lt;BR&gt;Nissan North America, Inc.&lt;BR&gt;O 615-725-1448&lt;BR&gt;C 615-306-9599&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href=\&quot;http://www.nissannews.com/\&quot; target=_blank&gt;www.nissannews.com&lt;/A&gt; &lt;BR&gt;&lt;/LI&gt;</description></item><item><title>NISSAN TO PRODUCE THE NV200 VAN IN BARCELONA</title><link>http://www.nissanlcv.com/press_release.php?id=118</link><description>&lt;STRONG&gt;GENEVA, Switzerland. (Mar. 3, 2009) –&lt;/STRONG&gt; Together with the global unveil of the all-new Nissan NV200 at the Geneva Motorshow, the company announced that this model will be&amp;nbsp;produced for Europe in Barcelona, Spain, beginning late this year.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The NV200 is a global vehicle, which will be built in several Nissan plants in the world. It will be launched in Japan in Spring 2009, in Europe in the second half of 2009, and then in China and a number of other markets globally.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;For the European market, the NV200 will be produced alongside the vehicles currently built in Barcelona: the Pathfinder, the Navara pick up and the Primastar (also built as Traffic for the Renault brand). Nissan Spanish Industrial Operations (NSIO) will adapt its two production lines to accommodate the additional vehicle. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;\&quot;In a time of difficult economic conditions, we are pleased that the Nissan plant in Barcelona was able to adapt to the changing market environment and accommodate the production for Europe of this important vehicle,\&quot; said Andy Palmer, Senior Vice President, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Head of Nissan’s Global LCV Business Unit. \&quot;This first step has been made possible by the dedication and passionate efforts of the Barcelona Plant management, but also by the cooperative approach of both the Spanish and Catalan authorities and the Unions. We hope that this spirit will be kept to make sure the Barcelona Plant will take the necessary further steps to become competitive and gain new products for its sustainability\&quot; said Palmer.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The NSIO management announced that, in order to be competitive and gain new products, the Barcelona plant needs to meet a number of conditions including the ability to sustain capacity utilisation while preserving flexibility.</description></item><item><title>NV200: NISSAN’S NEW SMALL VERSATILE PEOPLE CARRIER AND VAN </title><link>http://www.nissanlcv.com/press_release.php?id=117</link><description>&lt;P&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;ROLLE, Switzerland (February 24, 2009) –&lt;/STRONG&gt; Nissan is preparing a move into the global small van market with the introduction of its all new spacious yet compact NV200 small van.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;At a glance&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;
&lt;UL&gt;
&lt;LI&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;Three different configurations of NV200 
&lt;LI&gt;Sliding side doors for ease of entry 
&lt;LI&gt;4.1m&lt;SUP&gt;3&lt;/SUP&gt; of loading space in van version 
&lt;LI&gt;Economical petrol and diesel engines 
&lt;LI&gt;Low cost of ownership 
&lt;LI&gt;Family version is seven seat people carrier 
&lt;LI&gt;Global model for multiple regions&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/LI&gt;&lt;/UL&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Designed from the outset as both a commercial and a passenger vehicle, the Nissan NV200 brings new levels of space, comfort and practicality to the small van market, both in Europe and other global markets.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;NV200 will be available in three different versions: a van with the largest load space in its class and two seven seat variants – the functional Combi version for loads and passengers, and the more plush passenger car version,&amp;nbsp; which will be shown at Geneva Motor Show next month. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;\&quot;The Nissan LCV business is in a phase of expansion even in these challenging financial circumstances,\&quot; said Andy Palmer, Senior Vice President, Global Product Planning, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. \&quot;We aim to expand our business with smart new products and services that meet the needs of our customers, both in Europe and around the world.\&quot;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;He added: “The NV200 is our proposal for a global small van. It offers outstanding utility and smart convenience with low cost of ownership, packaged in a highly functional design. With this vehicle, Nissan aims to meet the needs of customers looking for a functional, adaptable light van. We will launch the NV200 in Japan before summer, in Europe in autumn 2009 and then in China and other markets.”&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Maximised cargo area&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;NV200 uses innovative packaging ideas to create the largest and most practical cargo area in its class. Although a little under 4.4m in overall length, the van version of the NV200 has a load bay that’s more than 2m long (2040mm). &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;With front-wheel drive and the adoption of a highly compact rear suspension system, the NV200 can house two standard Euro pallets in the cargo area at a time. At 1.84m high NV200 is no taller than its rivals, while at 520mm from ground level, the floor itself is the lowest in the class to ease loading, helping to boost the cargo volume to 4.1m&lt;SUP&gt;3&lt;/SUP&gt;. Maximum payload is 771kg.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Spacious interior&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;A large cargo area is a vital attribute for a van, of course, but the generous interior dimensions of NV200 also translate into ample passenger space in the Combi version.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Unlike some other manufacturers that fit removable seats – which are invariably heavy to lift and need to be stored elsewhere when not in use – the seats in the Combi stay with the vehicle at all times . The middle row backrest has a 60/40 split to increase versatility and the entire assembly tumbles forward to fold flat against the front seats, while the rear pair fold individually to either side of the load area. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Throughout the creation of NV200, attention has been paid to ensuring the highest levels of quality with shut lines and panel gaps in line with the expectations of passenger car buyers.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;While the van optionally is available with a side window it, differs from the passenger versions at the rear where it has twin side hinged “French” doors. Both seven-seaters have a fully glazed top hinged tailgate – though the Combi will be available with French doors - while the windows on both side doors have a sliding section for extra ventilation.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Road car platform&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;Built on a modified version of Nissan’s B Platform, NV200 has fully independent strut type front suspension mounted on a separate subframe and a compact and lightweight yet robust wide leaf spring rear axle. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Performance comes from a choice of two engines, one petrol and one diesel.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The petrol version will be powered by Nissan’s renowned all aluminium 1.6-litre HR16 engine, as found in Micra, Note and Qashqai. Displacing 1,598cc, the 16-valve unit develops 79kW (108PS) and 153Nm of torque and is mated to a five-speed manual transmission.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The diesel, also found on Note and Micra, is Alliance partner Renault’s acclaimed 8-valve 1.5 dCi (K9K) 1,461cc engine. Developing 200 Nm of torque and 63kW (86PS), it offers an ideal blend of performance, refinement and fuel economy. Power is transmitted through a five-speed gearbox.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;To create more space in the cockpit, the gearlever extends not from the floor but from the two-tone wrap around centre console. Above the gearlever, the centre section houses the heating and ventilation controls and the double DIN radio slot. Heating and ventilation extends to all three rows of seats. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Well equipped&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;The NV200 is availble with an optional rear view parking camera, a first for a van in this segment, while the cabin is full of storage spaces, pockets and cup/bottle holders. There is also a secret storage space large enough to hide camera, mobile phones or vital documents within the upper portion of the glovebox.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Joining the parking camera, other car-like items of standard or optional equipment include features such as Nissan’s Intelligent Key, power windows and ESP. Safety equipment includes anti-lock brakes with brake assist (BA) and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) as standard. Driver and passenger airbags are also standard with side bags available as an option.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Pedestrian safety has also been considered with extra crash absorbing material in the bonnet and the adoption of an energy-absorbing bonnet.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Low cost of ownership&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;Cost of ownership is projected to be among the lowest in the class thanks in part to the low running costs and high efficiency of the engines and drivetrains, but also thanks to the safety structure which helps to minimise crash damage to vulnerable under bonnet parts such as the radiator.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;“With its intelligent layout and packaging helping to give it the largest cargo area in its class, NV200 delivers the right combination of functionality and efficiency. That same practicality can be found in both the Combi and passenger version, but with the added benefit of car-like comfort and features”, said Dominique Correze, Vice President, Nissan’s European LCV Business Unit.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Ends….&lt;BR&gt;The passenger version of NV200 will be on the Nissan stand (Hall 4, Stand 4150) at the 79&lt;SUP&gt;th &lt;/SUP&gt;International Geneva Motor Show. Nissan’s press conference is at 17:00, 3&lt;SUP&gt;rd&lt;/SUP&gt; March, hosted by Carlos Tavares, Executive Vice President, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;For further information:&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href=\&quot;http://www.nissaneurope-newsbureau.com/\&quot; target=_blank&gt;www.nissaneurope-newsbureau.com&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href=\&quot;http://www.nissangeneva2009.com/\&quot; target=_blank&gt;www.nissangeneva2009.com&lt;/A&gt;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Neil Reeve, Product Communications, Nissan Europe:&lt;BR&gt;+41 [0] 21 822 57 74&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href=\&quot;mailto:nreeve@nissan-europe.com\&quot;&gt;nreeve@nissan-europe.com&lt;/A&gt;&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>NISSAN ANNOUNCES 2009 SALES TARGET FOR CHINA</title><link>http://www.nissanlcv.com/press_release.php?id=116</link><description>&lt;STRONG&gt;TOKYO (February 12, 2009) –&lt;/STRONG&gt; Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (Nissan) today announced a sales target of 570,000 units for China, including both passenger and light commercial vehicles (LCVs). &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Nissan’s sales in China for 2008 were 545,000 units, an increase of 19 percent versus 2007. In total, seven new models including the new Teana and other three models from Nissan, and other three models from Infiniti were launched, all contributors to the automaker’s growth story in China.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd. (DFL), Nissan’s local partner in China, also reported a significant increase for 2008, selling 708,000 passenger vehicles, LCVs, and heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks and buses (H&amp;amp;MCVs), up 16 percent versus 2007. DFL expects continued growth in 2009 as it targets sales of 1 million vehicles in 2012.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;“Last year was an excellent beginning for achieving our 2012 goals,” said Kimiyasu Nakamura, president of DFL. “Working from there, we know 2009 will be a crucial year for us as we continue to expand our business for both our passenger and commercial vehicles.”&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;DFL plans to introduce NT400 Cabster, a new light duty truck, which will be built at the Xiangfan plant in China. The ZD30 diesel engine for this model will be manufactured at the all-new engine plant in Shiyan, Hubei Province and is the third Nissan engine built locally. The others are the HR and MD engines built at Huadu, Guangzhou.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Nissan and DFL plan to implement a dual-brand strategy for the LCV business. Nissan-branded LCVs will compete in the premium LCV market, while Dongfeng-branded vehicles will be marketed for the broader general LCV market in China.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;About DFL&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd. was established in 2003 as a result of a comprehensive, strategic partnership between Dongfeng Group and Nissan. DFL is the first joint venture in China to have a full line-up of passenger vehicles, LCVs and H&amp;amp;MCVs. Registered capital of the company is RMB16.7 billion (USD: 2.4 billion), the largest automotive joint venture investment in China, with Dongfeng and Nissan each holding a 50 percent stake.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;###&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Note:&lt;/STRONG&gt;&amp;nbsp;Amounts in dollars are translated for the convenience of the reader at the foreign exchange rate of RMB 1 per USD 0.146.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Contact:&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Communications CSR Department&lt;BR&gt;Tel: +81-(0)3-5565-2141(Corp)/2142(Product)/2334(IR)&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href=\&quot;http://press.nissan-global.com/EN\&quot; target=_blank&gt;http://press.nissan-global.com/EN&lt;/A&gt; (Press)&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href=\&quot;http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/IR/\&quot; target=_blank&gt;http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/IR/&lt;/A&gt; (IR)&lt;BR&gt;</description></item><item><title>NISSAN TAKES FURTHER ACTION AMID GLOBAL CRISIS</title><link>http://www.nissanlcv.com/press_release.php?id=114</link><description>&lt;P&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;TOKYO (Feb. 9, 2009) -&lt;/STRONG&gt; Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (NML), today announced recovery actions designed to enhance the company\'s performance during the current global economic and financial crisis. The company also revealed a new organizational structure to guide Nissan through current challenges and support its future direction.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;New recovery actions&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;Despite actions already taken during 2008 to respond to the global crisis, worsening conditions are prompting the need for further changes to the company\'s cash management strategy, business structure and investment plans. Countermeasures include the following:&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;UL&gt;
&lt;LI&gt;In order to focus on recovery actions, our 2008-2012 midterm business plan, Nissan GT 2012, will be suspended, but commitments on quality and zero-emission vehicles will be retained. 
&lt;LI&gt;Labor costs will be reduced in line with the decrease in revenues. During FY2009 labor costs in high-cost countries will be reduced by 20%, from 875 billion yen to 700 billion yen. 
&lt;LI&gt;&amp;nbsp;Bonus payments to the board of directors will be eliminated for FY2008. Starting in March and until the situation clearly improves, salaries paid to board members and corporate officers will be reduced by 10% and those paid to managers in NML and affiliate companies in Japan by 5%. 
&lt;LI&gt;Nissan will negotiate the implementation of a work sharing scheme for staff workers, to be announced by the end of the fiscal year. 
&lt;LI&gt;Global headcount will be reduced by 20,000 through FY2009, reducing Nissan\'s headcount from 235,000 to 215,000. 
&lt;LI&gt;Inventory will be tightly controlled. In March 2008, company and dealer inventory was 630,000 units; that level will be reduced by 20%, to 480,000, by March 2009. 
&lt;LI&gt;Production will be right-sized through changes such as shift elimination, non-production days and shorter working hours. These actions will reduce global production by 787,000 units - a 20% decrease compared to planned volume - by the end of this fiscal year. 
&lt;LI&gt;Capital expenditure reductions will result in a 21% contribution to saving cash by the end of FY2008 compared to FY2007. An additional reduction of 14% will be made in FY2009, taking overall capital expenditures from 384 billion yen in FY2008 to less than 330 billion yen in FY2009. 
&lt;LI&gt;Joint manufacturing projects with Alliance partner Renault in Morocco and India will be revised. In Chennai, India, the joint plant will proceed with a reduced ramp-up speed. In Morocco, Nissan will suspend its participation in the industrial project near Tangiers.&amp;nbsp; 
&lt;LI&gt;The product portfolio will be revised, including the cancellation of selected future programs. Nissan will launch an average of 10 all-new vehicles per year in the 2009-2012 period, including the company\'s all-new, A-Platform entry-car lineup and a dedicated all-electric vehicle. 
&lt;LI&gt;By improving working capital, mainly accounts payable and receivable, Nissan will generate 130 billion yen of cash in FY2009. 
&lt;LI&gt;A detailed review is ongoing to identify deeper synergy opportunities within the Renault-Nissan Alliance. The focus is on future investments in products, technology, support functions and purchasing cost reductions. Each company will contribute to free cash flow with a minimum of 90 billion yen (750 million euros) in synergy benefits during FY2009. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/LI&gt;&lt;/UL&gt;
&lt;P&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;New organizational structure&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;In addition to actions being taken to streamline its business, Nissan is announcing changes to its executive management structure in order to provide an enhanced focus on both regional and functional activities. The changes are effective immediately. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Toshiyuki Shiga,&lt;/STRONG&gt; Chief Operating Officer, expands his responsibilities to include management of a newly created three-region structure, in addition to government affairs manufacturing, research and development, purchasing, product planning, design, and marketing and sales. Shiga continues to report to President and CEO Carlos Ghosn.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Colin Dodge&lt;/STRONG&gt; is appointed to the newly created position of Chief Recovery Officer, reporting to Ghosn. In this position, Dodge will lead the company\'s ongoing recovery activities, and he also assumes responsibility for the corporate planning and control functions. Dodge is leading the newly created region encompassing Africa, the Middle East, India and Europe.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Hiroto Saikawa,&lt;/STRONG&gt; Executive Vice President, takes responsibility for a new region that is comprised of Japan, China and the Asia-Pacific markets. Saikawa retains his responsibility for purchasing and adds responsibility for the company\'s affiliates.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Carlos Tavares,&lt;/STRONG&gt; Executive Vice President, is responsible for a new region that consolidates all markets in North, Central and South America.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Andrew Palmer&lt;/STRONG&gt; is appointed Senior Vice President with responsibility for product planning, the Infiniti business unit, the Light Commercial Vehicle business unit and a newly created electric vehicle business unit. Palmer is newly elected to serve on Nissan\'s Executive Committee.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In addition to those named above, the Nissan Executive Committee includes the following executives:&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;UL&gt;
&lt;LI&gt;Alain Dassas, Chief Financial Officer (reports directly to Ghosn); 
&lt;LI&gt;Junichi Endo, Senior Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing; 
&lt;LI&gt;Hidetoshi Imazu, Executive Vice President, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management; and 
&lt;LI&gt;Mitsuhiko Yamashita, Executive Vice President, Research and Development and Total Customer Satisfaction.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/LI&gt;&lt;/UL&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Commenting on the countermeasures and executive changes, President and CEO Ghosn said: \&quot;The additional actions we are announcing today will reinforce our ability to manage through this global crisis, but they also position Nissan for rapid, strong growth when conditions improve. An organization needs to be flexible enough to meet the changing needs of the business, and I am confident we have the talent, diversity and experience to lead Nissan effectively.\&quot;&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>NISSAN NET LOSS AT 83.2 BILLION YEN IN THIRD QUARTER FY08</title><link>http://www.nissanlcv.com/press_release.php?id=115</link><description>&lt;P&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;TOKYO (Feb. 9, 2009)&lt;/STRONG&gt; -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008, ending March 31, 2009, as well as for the first nine months. In the third quarter, the consolidated net loss after tax came to 83.2 billion yen (US $0.81 billion, euro 0.55 billion), compared to net income of 132.2 billion yen (US $1.28 billion, euro 0.87 billion) from the same period a year ago. The loss is driven by the severe downturn in the global economy in the second half of calendar year 2008 and, in particular, the negative impact of the strong yen, the sharp decline in consumer confidence in all major markets and product mix deterioration. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Net revenue was down 34.4% to 1.8165 trillion yen (US $17.65 billion, euro 12.02 billion). Nissan\'s operating loss totaled 99.2 billion yen (US $0.96 billion, euro 0.66 billion). Ordinary loss amounted to 112.7 billion yen (US $1.1 billion, euro 0.75 billion).&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;\&quot;In every planning scenario we built, our worst assumptions on the state of the global economy have been met or exceeded, with the continuing grip on credit and declining consumer confidence being the most damaging factors,\&quot; said Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn. \&quot;Looking forward, our priority remains on protecting our free cash flow and taking swift, adequate and impactful actions to improve our business performance.\&quot;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Nissan sold a total of 731,000 vehicles worldwide in the October-to-December 2008 period, down 18.6%. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In the April-to-December 2008 period, net income after tax totaled 43.2 billion yen (US $0.42 billion, euro 0.29 billion), down 87.5% compared with the previous year. Net revenue fell 14.7% to 6.6858 trillion yen (US $64.97 billion, euro 44.25 billion). Operating profit totaled 92.5 billion yen (US $0.9 billion, euro 0.61 billion), down 84.0%. Operating profit margin came to 1.4%. Ordinary profit amounted to 90.0 billion yen (US $0.87 billion, euro 0.6 billion), down 84.0%.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Globally, Nissan sold a total of 2,633,000 vehicles in the first nine months, down 3.0% compared with last year. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In fiscal year 2008, Nissan will launch a total of eight all-new products globally. Four new products were introduced in the third quarter: NP200 in South Africa and KIX mini-SUV, Cube and Fairlady Z in Japan.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Due to the worsening state of the global economy and associated deterioration in global auto markets, the company has further revised its forecast for the full fiscal year 2008. Nissan filed the following revised forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009, with the Tokyo Stock Exchange:&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;UL&gt;
&lt;LI&gt;Consolidated net revenues of 8.3 trillion yen (US $80.66 billion, euro 54.93 billion); 
&lt;LI&gt;Operating loss of 180 billion yen (US $1.75 billion, euro 1.19 billion); 
&lt;LI&gt;Ordinary loss of 190 billion yen (US $1.85 billion, euro 1.26billion); and
&lt;LI&gt;&amp;nbsp;Net loss of 265 billion yen (US $2.58 billion, euro 1.75 billion). &lt;/LI&gt;&lt;/UL&gt;&lt;EM&gt;Notes: Amounts in dollars and euros are translated for the convenience of the reader at the foreign exchange rates of 102.9 yen/dollar and 151.1 yen/euro, the average rates for the first nine months of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009.&lt;/EM&gt;</description></item></channel></rss>