Auto news and reviews from Car Buyer's Notebook.com: Nissan Archives

August 10, 2008

Nissan previews new enviro-vehicles

TOKYO -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today unveiled all-electric and original hybrid electric prototype vehicles, both powered by advanced lithium-ion batteries.

Under the NISSAN GT 2012 business plan, the company has committed to zero-emission vehicle leadership, and has announced plans to introduce an all-electric vehicle in 2010 and mass market globally in 2012.

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August 10, 2008

Nissan previews collision-free technology

TOKYO -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has unveiled an All-Around Collision Free prototype incorporating two all-new technologies - Side Collision Prevention (SCP) and Back-up Collision Prevention (BCP). Incorporating the available Distance Control Assist (DCA) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) systems, this latest prototype vehicle further extends Nissan's "Safety Shield" concept to help protect the vehicle and its occupants from potential risks coming from multiple directions.

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August 9, 2008

Chrysler's car plans in question

Reports that Chrysler LLC and Nissan Motor Co. are in discussions to jointly produce midsize cars raise questions about the future of Chrysler's car lineup.

If the Auburn Hills automaker is turning to Nissan for help, progress may have slowed or hit a snag in Chrysler's effort to redevelop its midsize cars, analysts said Thursday. That initiative, dubbed Project D, involves a special team of top engineers and designers charged with developing replacements for the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger sedans.

Nissan shows test models of electric car

YOKOSUKA, Japan -- Nissan showed on Wednesday a spiffy electric car packed with a battery developed by the Japanese automaker to deliver more power than the type common in today's hybrids.

The electric vehicle, set for sale in 2010, carried a 300 kilogram (660 pounds) lithium-ion battery and still zipped around a Nissan Motor Co. test course, accelerating more quickly than comparable gas-engine cars.

It was extremely quiet, absent of engine noise _ a trademark of electric vehicles. Details such as cruising range are yet to be determined, Nissan officials said.

Chrysler, Nissan in Talks on Cars

DETROIT -- Chrysler LLC is in talks with Nissan Motor Co. about jointly producing midsize cars, a partnership that would move the U.S. auto maker toward a radical new business model.

The two companies agreed earlier this year to team up on pickup trucks and subcompact cars. Since then, they have been discussing an agreement under which Nissan would produce midsize sedans that Chrysler would sell in the U.S. under its own name, people familiar with the matter say.

A Chrysler spokesman said the company has "no new alliances" to announce, and declined to comment on any discussions it might be having.

August 8, 2008

Nissan doubles fuel cell efficiency

TOKYO -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has developed a new fuel cell stack with double the power density of the previous generation stack.

The new fuel cell stack also achieves a 35% cost reduction mainly due to half the use of platinum, a key material used in the production of fuel cell stacks. Test fleets incorporating the improved fuel cell stacks will be operational by the end of this year.

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August 7, 2008

Nissan ECO Pedal system to be commercialized by 2009

TOKYO -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today unveiled the ECO Pedal - a world first technology - designed to assist drivers to become more fuel-efficient.

When the eco-pedal system is on, each time the driver steps on the accelarator, a counter push-back control mechanism is activated if the system detects excess pressure, helping to inform the driver that they could be using more fuel than required.

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August 6, 2008

BorgWarner Honored for Dual-Clutch Technology on the Nissan GT-R

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- BorgWarner received a 2008 Global Innovation Award from Nissan in recognition of its innovative dual-clutch technology, used in the all-new 2008 Nissan GT-R.

Launched in December in Japan and last month in the United States, the eagerly anticipated sports car is the first GT-R engineered for sale in global markets, the world's first longitudinal transaxle dual-clutch transmission, and the first Japanese transmission to feature BorgWarner's award-winning DualTronic technology.

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August 5, 2008

Nissan Murano, Volkswagen Tiguan Rated 'Very Good' in New Tests

YONKERS, N.Y. -- The new Volkswagen Tiguan and redesigned Nissan Murano achieved "Very Good" overall scores - and outpointed some of their competitors - in Consumer Reports' tests of compact and midsized, two-row sport-utility vehicles for the September issue.

The Tiguan and Murano were part of a group of six vehicles including the Infiniti EX, Land Rover LR2, Volkswagen Touareg 2, and Jeep Grand Cherokee that were tested. Prices-as-tested for the vehicles ranged from $35,479 for the Tiguan to $43,350 for the Touareg.

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August 4, 2008

Nissan Delivers Strong Market-Share Gain in July

FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- Sales of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles took an 8.4 percent share of the U.S. market in July, a 2 percentage-point gain over June and the highest monthly market share in at least 28 years.

Combined July sales for Nissan North America's two divisions amounted to 95,319 vehicles, up 8.5 percent compared with July 2007 and up 25.7 percent compared with June 2008.

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August 3, 2008

Nissan offers buyouts to factory workers

SMYRNA, Tenn. - Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) is offering a Voluntary Transition Program (VTP) to its technicians and salaried employees at its assembly plants in Smyrna and Decherd, Tenn.

The plan offers employees an opportunity to receive a lump sum of $100,000 or $125,000, depending on tenure, plus medical and car purchase benefits.

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August 1, 2008

Nissan Announces July Sales Up 8.5%

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) (NASDAQ:NSANY) today reported sales for July of 95,319 units versus 87,877 units a year ago, an increase of 8.5 percent.

Sales of Nissan Division vehicles increased 9.9 percent, while sales of Infiniti vehicles decreased by 2.9 percent.

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Nissan Altima Hybrid Named to 'Top 10 Green Cars'

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Nissan Altima Hybrid, which offers the efficiency and fuel economy of a hybrid drivetrain with the performance and excitement customers have come to expect from the Altima line-up, has been named one of the "Top 10 Green Cars" by the editors of Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com.

In compiling the list, the kbb.com editors considered factors such as comfort, performance, utility and technology, along with fuel economy and price.

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July 31, 2008

Nissan Announces $50,000 Grant to Y-Hispanic Achievers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NASDAQ:NSANY) announced today that it has contributed $50,000 to the Hispanic Achievers -- a program of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee.

This will mark the second year Nissan has partnered with the local non-profit contributing a total of $100,000 to date.

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July 30, 2008

Chrysler, GM and Nissan are Tops in Online Search Visibility

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- iCrossing, a global digital marketing company, today announced the findings of the Vertical Visibility Index: Automotive, the first in a series of studies analyzing the paid and natural search media visibility leaders within specific industry verticals.

iCrossing found that Chrysler, GM and Nissan North America are doing the best job of taking a synergistic search engine marketing approach, with the highest scores for combined visibility. Ford leads for natural search visibility and Hyundai has the greatest paid search visibility for the keyword set analyzed.

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July 24, 2008

Nissan celebrates opening of U.S. Headquarters

Nissan is celebrating the dedication of Nissan Americas in Franklin, Tenn. that serves as regional headquarters for the United States, Canada and Mexico. Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen and U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander joined Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn for opening ceremonies. The day-long event included more than 1,500 employees and members of the community.

Nissan Americas is designed to encourage and inspire cross-functional collaboration within the region. The 10-story, S-shaped facility, designed with numerous environmental features, provides 460,000 square feet of office space.

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Nissan sets fastest lap for fuel cell vehicle at Nürburgring

TROISDORF -- Lap runs on the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany's Eifel region are often cancelled due to rain.

But the wet weather didn't stop Nissan from taking its X-Trail fuel cell vehicle for a spin on the course recently, making Nissan the first automaker to record an FCV lap on the famous race track.

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July 23, 2008

Carlos Ghosn to Open the Los Angeles Auto Show as Keynote Speaker

LOS ANGELES - Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Renault S.A., will kick off the Los Angeles Auto Show by delivering the Motor Press Guild (MPG) keynote address the morning of Nov. 19, 2008.

Ghosn joined Nissan as its chief operating officer in June 1999, became president in June 2000 and was named chief executive officer in June 2001.

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Renault-Nissan & Tennessee Form Zero-Emission Vehicle Partnership

FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- The Renault-Nissan Alliance today announced that Nissan and the State of Tennessee are forming a partnership to promote zero-emission vehicles, including electric vehicles, in Middle Tennessee with participation from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and other partners.

In May, Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and Renault, SA, committed the Alliance to be a global leader in zero-emission vehicles (ZEV).

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Nissan recalls Sentras due to brake problems

Nissan Motor Co. is recalling nearly 170,000 Sentra sedans in the United States to address a brake cylinder that could leak fluid.

The recall involves 2007-2008 Sentras, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported on its Web site. Nissan plans to notify owners beginning Wednesday.

Nissan said in a letter to NHTSA that an irregularity in some of the cylinders could lead to a gap that could allow fluid to leak into the brake booster assembly.

July 12, 2008

Renault-Nissan Commit to Zero Emission Vehicles in Portugal

LISBON -- The Government of Portugal and the Renault Nissan Alliance today announced a partnership to promote zero-emission mobility across that country.

The partnership was launched today in Lisbon, in the presence of Mr. José Sócrates, the Prime Minister of Portugal, and Mr. Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Renault and President and CEO of Nissan.

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July 9, 2008

Nissan Increases Delivery Charges on all Vehicles

Nissan North America, Inc. announced increased Destination & Handling (D&H) charges on all 2008 and 2009 Nissan and Infiniti vehicles, effective today.

D&H charges go up $35 on all Nissan vehicles (except the Nissan GT-R, which went on sale July 7th) and $50 on all Infiniti vehicles.

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Nissan Announces Sentra, Murano Price Increases

Nissan today announced interim pricing adjustments on the 2008 Nissan Sentra and 2009 Nissan Murano, effective immediately.

The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)* increases $100 on all 2008 Nissan Sentra models.

The 2009 Murano, which went on sale last January 15 with an MSRP reduction of $1,500 compared to the previous generation Murano, increases $540 for all models.

July 8, 2008

Renault Plans to Mass Produce Electric Cars

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France -- Renault SA Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said Saturday the company is getting ready to mass produce electric cars to offset rising energy prices. "We're getting ready for mass production of electric cars," Mr. Ghosn said at an economic conference in the southern French city of Aix-en-Provence. "Energy will remain expensive."

Mr. Ghosn, who is also CEO of Nissan Motor Co., said in May that the Japanese company intends to bring a fully electric, zero-emissions car to the mass market in 2012, in an attempt to cash in on a market for urban cars that he estimates at about 10 million vehicles annually.

When batteries become the centerpiece of a new electric car, the current wave of delocalization, which has left western European car production stagnating in the past 15 years, may reverse. "Batteries you can produce them on the Champs Elysees, or anywhere close to Paris," Mr. Ghosn said, because that kind of production doesn't need much labor input.

July 7, 2008

First Nissan GT-R Supercar Delivered!

LOS ANGELES -- Nissan North America, Inc. saved a few fireworks for the morning after the Independence Day holiday, delivering the first Nissan GT-R supercar in the United States at 12:01 a.m. PDT today to a Southern California customer.

The exotic, all-new 2009 Nissan GT-R, long coveted by American buyers who previously could experience the legendary GT-R only through electronic video games, officially goes on sale today at a select number of GT-R Certified Nissan dealers across the country.

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July 2, 2008

Nissan Announces June Sales Down 11.9%

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported sales for June of 75,847 units versus 92,213 units a year ago, a decrease of 17.7 percent.

Sales of Nissan Division vehicles decreased 18.5 percent, while sales of Infiniti vehicles decreased by 11.9 percent. NNA in the first quarter of the fiscal year sold 252,477 units, versus 256,399 for the April-June 2007 period, a decrease of 1.5 percent.

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July 1, 2008

Redesigned Subaru Forester Becomes Top-Rated Small SUV

YONKERS, N.Y. -- The redesigned Subaru Forester emerged as Consumer Reports' new top-rated small sport-utility vehicle, following testing of seven SUVs for the August issue. The Toyota RAV4 had previously been top-ranked by CR in that category.

The Forester 2.5XT Limited achieved an "Excellent" overall score in CR's battery of more than 50 tests at its Auto Test Center in East Haddam, CT.

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June 28, 2008

2009 Nissan GT-R Deliveries to Begin July 7th

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan today announced that deliveries of the all-new 2009 Nissan GT-R are scheduled to begin on Monday, July 7, 2008.

More than 1,700 of the exotic 480-horsepower GT-R supercars, or approximately 70 percent of the first year allocation for the United States market, have already been spoken for since the announcement of a pre-sale ordering program last January.

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June 27, 2008

Nissan launches 24-hour production in the UK

Sunderland, UK -- At 8.45pm on Sunday June 29th 2008, Nissan will launch a night shift at its plant in Sunderland, marking the start of 'round-the-clock' production.

The third shift has created 800 new jobs at the plant and has been implemented
in response to continuing excellent customer demand for the award-winning Qashqai crossover.

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Nissan Executive Testifies Before Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming

WASHINGTON -- Dominique Thormann, senior vice president for administration and finance at Nissan North America, Inc., today testified at a congressional hearing that radical change, in the form of breakthrough technology like the zero-emission electric car, is needed to address national and global challenges affecting consumers and the environment.

During his comments he asked members of Congress to foster greater cooperation between the public and private sectors in order to create an environment that encourages investment in new technologies and infrastructure.

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June 26, 2008

Nissan Publishes 2008 Sustainability Report

TOKYO -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. will publish its 2008 Sustainability Report on June 25, after the conclusion of its 109th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. The fifth-edition of the report offers an update of Nissan's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives within the scope of nine key focus areas identified by the company.

The report includes the Nissan CSR Scorecard which tracks the progress made on annual CSR objectives.

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Nissan employees to help build 12 Habitat for Humanity homes

For Nashville mother of four Angela Knight, moving into her new Habitat for Humanity home will be a "dream come true," an opportunity for her family to stretch out, feel safe, and grow stronger and closer in a new home.

"This is a dream come true. Owning my own home will give me the chance to create a more structured setting for my children," said Knight, who has been living with her family in the Historic Preston Taylor homes, a housing project in West Nashville. "I recognize my responsibility to teach them the importance of maintaining good character, strong morals and work ethic."

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June 25, 2008

Nissan Announces Pricing on 2009 Maxima

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc. announced pricing on the all-new, flagship 2009 Nissan Maxima, which goes on sale today at Nissan dealers nationwide. The seventh generation Maxima returns to its heritage as "The 4-Door Sports Car(TM)," combining thrilling performance with premium sedan comfort, quality and amenities.

It features all-new sports styling, a driver-oriented interior and an enhanced 290-horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine - offering 35 more horsepower than the previous generation Maxima and better fuel economy (EPA estimated 19 mpg City/26 mpg Highway versus 19/25 mpg for the 2008 Maxima).

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June 24, 2008

Nissan Names Catherine Perez Vice President of Purchasing

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today announced the appointment of Catherine Perez as Vice President of Purchasing for Nissan North America.

She will begin her new role on Sept. 1, and will report to Bill Krueger, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, Purchasing & Supply Chain Management and Total Customer Satisfaction for the Americas.

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June 16, 2008

Nissan manufacturing celebrates 25 years in Smyrna

SMYRNA, Tenn. -- Nissan North America's (NNA) vehicle assembly plant in Smyrna, Tenn., celebrated 25 years of building high quality vehicles at the award-winning facility today. Since the plant produced its first compact pickup truck in June 1983, more than 8.2 million vehicles have been built in Smyrna.

"Over the past 25 years, Nissan's Smyrna plant has placed its mark on this community, the southern United States, and the automotive industry," said Greg Daniels, senior vice president, U.S. Manufacturing, Nissan North America. "We are extremely proud of what we've accomplished over the past quarter of a century and are looking forward to the next 25 years."

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June 14, 2008

Nissan Boosts Altima Production to Meet Car Demand

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - On the heels of the best sales month in history for the Nissan Altima, Nissan North America, Inc., announced it will modify production at its Canton, Miss., vehicle assembly plant to meet consumer demand.

To meet the needs of the marketplace, an additional shift of Altima production will be added to the car system at the Canton plant.

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June 7, 2008

Nissan saves 21 million gallons of H2O at Barcelona Paint Plant

BARCELONA -- Nissan Motor Co.’s productive manufacturing plant in Barcelona will save 21.6 million liters of water in its paint shop in 2008, thanks to a new water recycling process now installed.

This improvement - a 20 percent reduction in water consumption over 2007 - is an integral element of the Nissan Green Program 2010, a global program designed to reduce the company’s impact on the environment.

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Nissan and Habitat for Humanity Build Houses With Energy-Saving Features

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Habitat for Humanity International and Nissan North America Inc. (NNA) announced today the renewal of an annual $1 million partnership.

Through the partnership, Nissan will fund the construction of affordable houses that conserve energy and water, support ongoing Habitat for Humanity homebuilding projects and assist with Habitat's disaster response efforts.

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June 5, 2008

Best Selling Pickups in the United States for May 2008

Pickup truck sales dropped 36.1% in the U.S. in May, and as they say, that's gonna' leave a mark.

For the year to date pickup sales are down 21%, with only the Toyota Tundra selling more than last year [8.5%].

Even with plant idlings and closings, it's becoming pretty obvious there is overcapacity in the market, and we wouldn't be surprised if one of the manufacturers pulls out or shuts down pickup truck production altogether.

Best selling pickups trucks for May 2008:

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Top Selling Minivans in the Unites States for May 2008

The minivan segment saw sales drop 16.6% in May, with Chrysler holding on to two of the top three spots, thanks in part to their gas rebate plan.

Of particular note was the 80% drop in Hyundai Entourage sales, that one can only hope was due to a supply problem -- point being, this is a bad time to be getting into the minivan business, as Volkswagen is about to find out.

The top 8 best selling minivans in the United States for May 2008:

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Nissan to build new vehicle in Sunderland

LONDON -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced that it will source an innovative all-new compact car from its Sunderland plant in the United Kingdom (UK), starting in 2010. Building on the success of the Qashqai, the all-new product will reinforce Sunderland’s role as manufacturer and exporter of high-value products.

The decision was announced following a visit today by the British Prime Minister, the Right Honorable Gordon Brown, to Nissan’s European Design Centre in central London where he met Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO, Nissan Motor Co.

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June 4, 2008

Top Selling Crossovers in the United States for May 2008

With total SUV sales down 19.5% in May, not even the crossover segment was able to escape unscathed -- the smaller ute/station wagon category was also down 5%, as consumers decided they didn't even want mini-SUVs over more fuel efficient cars.

Besides the usual suspects a couple vehicles did well in consumers' quest for smaller wagons, including the Dodge Journey, Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester. Also of note is that GM placed both the GMC Acadia and Saturn Vue in the top 15, which is good news for that new platform, and for the parent company that suffered a big blow for the month.

After the jump, the top 15 best selling crossovers for May 2008:

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2009 Nissan Xterra

All 2009 Xterra models feature an advanced 4.0-liter DOHC V6 engine, rated at 261 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque, along with a rugged "F-Alpha" truck platform for adventure-ready performance.

The "F-Alpha" platform is shared with the full-size Nissan Titan pickup and Armada SUV. Xterra is available with a choice of 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmissions and in a choice of part-time 4-wheel drive or 2-wheel drive.

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2009 Nissan Frontier

The 2009 Nissan Frontier continues to offer an unmatched level of on- and off- road performance with the use of a 4.0-liter DOHC V6 engine with best-in- segment horsepower (261 horsepower), torque (281 lb-ft), towing and payload specifications.

With its strong performance, the Frontier is a fitting truck for work or play. An advanced 2.5-liter DOHC inline 4-cylinder engine, with 152 horsepower and 171 lb-ft torque, is also available on the base Frontier King Cab 4x2 model.

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Nissan Announces Changes to 2009 Xterra and Frontier

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc.today revealed details of the 2009 Xterra sport utility vehicle and 2009 Frontier mid-size pickup, both of which receive numerous refinements for the new model year.

Both vehicles are scheduled to arrive at Nissan dealerships nationwide in mid-July 2008.

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Top Ten Best Selling Cars in the United States for May 2008

American consumers voted with their wallets at car dealerships in May, and overwhelmingly chose fuel efficient cars over trucks and SUVs, by the highest margin in recent history. Nearly 60% of vehicles bought were cars, while bigger vehicles dropped to 43% of purchases.

There was big news in the battle for the best selling car, as the Honda Civic pulled in front of Toyota's Camry and Corolla, with the Nissan Altima taking its usual fifth spot behind the Honda Accord.

But even the domestics did well in this new reality environment, as Chevy posted three best sellers to the top ten, and Ford had two, with the Focus that has been doing well, but also with the Fusion sedan that had its best sales month ever.

Top Ten Best Selling Car in the United States for May 2008:

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June 3, 2008

Nissan Announces May Sales Up 4.4%

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported May sales of 100,874 units, compared to 93,062 in the prior year. Adjusted for the number of selling days, sales were up 4.4 percent, marking a record May.

On the same basis, Nissan Division sales rose 5.7 percent, from 82,314 units to 90,379 units, while the Infiniti Division saw sales of 10,495 units decrease from 10,748 units the prior year, a decline by 6.0 percent.

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May 29, 2008

Cadillac Tops 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

TUSTIN, Calif. -- A study released today by noted automotive consulting firm AutoPacific, Inc. summarizes the results of its 2008 model year vehicle satisfaction research. AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award (VSA) is an industry benchmark for objectively measuring how satisfied an owner is with their new passenger car or light truck.

In a year that promises to be the toughest in a decade, owner-based awards like AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award will help customers make their purchase decisions.

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May 28, 2008

Nissan's Canton Plant Celebrates 5th Anniversary

CANTON, Miss. -- Nissan North America's (NNA) vehicle manufacturing plant in Canton, Miss., celebrated its fifth year of production today. Since the plant's opening on May 27, 2003, more than 1.3 million vehicles have rolled off the assembly line.

"Nissan's Canton Plant is an impressive story of growth," said Dan Bednarzyk, vice president- Canton.

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Nissan Starts Building Next Gen Maxima

SMYRNA, Tenn. -- The first production model of the all-new 2009 Nissan Maxima today rolled off the assembly line at Nissan North America's Smyrna, Tenn., manufacturing plant, signaling the return of Nissan's flagship to its roots as a commanding 4-door sports car.

Sporting a bold new look, as well as a more powerful V6 under the hood, the "Job 1" 2009 Maxima was driven off the assembly line during a midday celebration attended by Nissan employees and executives.

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May 25, 2008

Nissan Mexicana Announces Senior Management Changes

Effective July 1, Nissan Mexicana (NMEX) will make senior management and organizational changes to better integrate NMEX’s growing manufacturing and allied operations into Nissan’s regional operations.

Shoichi Miyatani, president and general director, NMEX, will return to Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (NML) as corporate vice president, General Overseas Markets (GOM), where his primary focus will be Latin America.

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May 23, 2008

'El Reto Final Nissan' Soccer Match

"EL RETO FINAL NISSAN" soccer match will take place for the third consecutive year.

This year features some of the biggest soccer players of all times in a one-off rivalry match between Chivas de Guadalajara and Club America Legends.

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May 22, 2008

Nitrogen Tire Inflation System Approved for Nissan GT-R

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Nitrogen is emerging as the latest consumer trend in the auto industry -- especially for high-performance vehicles.

Every 2009 Nissan GT-R, which makes its U.S. debut in June and arguably is the most anticipated new vehicle of the year, will arrive in the country with nitrogen-filled tires. No Nissan dealer will be certified to sell a GT-R unless it can provide access to nitrogen in order to maintain them in top factory condition.

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May 21, 2008

Nissan wins Spanish enviro award for solar array

BARCELONA -- Creating the largest solar panel structure for industrial use in Spain has not only reduced Nissan Motor Ibérica’s carbon footprint and lowered its energy bills, but has also won the company an important award.

In recognition of the moves made to improve its energy efficiency, Nissan has won the 2008 Carles Ferrer Salat Award, presented annually by Fomento del Trabajo Nacional, a confederation of Catalan businesses.

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May 20, 2008

Nissan and NEC lauch joint battery operation

TOKYO – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., NEC Corporation, and its subsidiary NEC TOKIN Corporation, today announced that its joint-venture company – Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC) – has begun operations. AESC’s start of operation follows the announcement of the joint-venture in April 2007.

AESC will focus on the development and mass production of advanced lithium-ion batteries for a wide range of automotive applications from hybrids, electric vehicles to fuel-cell vehicles.

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May 19, 2008

Nissan to start battery making operation

Nissan is teaming up with NEC to manufacture lithium ion batteries, starting in 2009, that the automaker hopes to use in an all-electric vehicle in plans to bring to market in 2010.

Lithium ion batteries are considered the best practical measure for powering electric vehicles, as they hold a charge longer than nickel-metal hydride batteries that are currently used in hybrid vehicles.

To date, reducing the excessive heat produced by lithium batteries has proved to be the biggest scientific hurdle. General Motors is also working on lithium research for their proposed Volt electric hybrid car, and it appears that the winner in this tech race is going to be the one that reaches a significant breakthrough first.

May 13, 2008

Nissan GT 2012 Mid-term Business Plan Unveiled

TOKYO -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced financial results for the fiscal year 2007, ending March 31, 2008, and filed the following results with the Tokyo Stock Exchange:

-- Net revenues of 10.824 trillion yen (US $94.62 billion, euro 66.98 billion)
-- Operating profit of 790.8 billion yen (US $6.91 billion, euro 4.89 billion)
-- Ordinary profit of 766.4 billion yen (US $6.70 billion, euro 4.74 billion)

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May 12, 2008

2008 Fuel Economy Guide Available for Download

The EPA has issued a comprehensive PDF guide to fuel economy of all 2008 vehicles, which you can download by right-clicking here.

In today's gas market, buyers are more sensitive than ever about buying cars that get good mileage, and more important, they want the government ratings to be as accurate as possible -- nobody wants to buy a vehicle that gets 10% worse mileage in the real world than the sticker rating.

To address this situation, the EPA has started using an updated test to assign more accurate MPG ratings to new vehicles, and you can learn about that by watching the video in this post.

Nissan to build $2,500 car for Indian market

PARIS/PUNE/TOKYO -- Mr. Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj and Mr. Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Renault and President and CEO of Nissan, today announced they will form a joint-venture company to develop, produce and market the car code-named ULC with wholesale price range starting from 2500 USD.

The new joint-venture company will be 50% owned by Bajaj Auto, 25% by Renault and 25% by Nissan.

Continue reading "Nissan to build $2,500 car for Indian market"

Nissan expands in India

TOKYO -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (NML), today announced the appointment of Hover Automotive India Private Ltd. (Hover) as its service partner for marketing, sales, after-sales service and dealer development in India, effective May 8, 2008.

Under the service provision agreement, Hover will undertake the implementation of Nissan’s marketing and sales strategy, and support dealer development in India, with the aim of establishing 55 dealers by 2012.

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May 7, 2008

Nissan Blazing Trails in Forging Grassroots Relations

DALLAS -- Nissan North America Inc., a pioneer in launching and bringing together international Latino sports and reality TV with the famed El Reto Final Nissan soccer series, is going even more "reality" in bringing together Hispanic initiatives of international magnitude.

As a title sponsor, Nissan has been involved in bringing some of the most exciting international soccer matches to US fans.

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May 6, 2008

Nissan Names Alan Buddendeck Communications Vice President

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc., today announced that Alan J. Buddendeck has been appointed Vice President, Corporate Communications, succeeding Frederique Le Greves who will transfer to Renault Headquarter as of July 1st. Her assignment at Renault will be announced later.

Buddendeck, whose appointment is effective today, will be responsible for all internal, product and corporate communications and will oversee communications activities in the national and regional U.S. offices as well as in Canada and Mexico. Le Greves has been in the position for nearly four years. They will transition until mid-June.

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Nissan GT-R Sold Out in US, Attracts 1,500 Europe Pre-Orders

CASCAIS, Portugal, 5th May 2008 - Just one month after the European order books were opened for its all-new supercar, Nissan has received over 1500 orders for the GT-R.

Selected dealers across Europe began taking orders on 2nd April, with on-line orders starting two days later. Since then the 56 nominated High Performance Dealers across Europe have already taken a year’s supply of orders in one month. Nine hundred and fifty orders for GT-R have been taken in the UK alone.

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May 4, 2008

Top twenty best selling small cars for April 2008

Americans rediscovered cars in April 2008, with small cars in particular accounting for nearly one in five of all vehicles sold in an otherwise down month.

Toyota had four vehicles in the top twenty, General Motors had three; Nissan, Hyundai and Kia had two apiece. And Dodge has a hit with the Caliber, which made the list at number 9.

With people paying nearly $4 per gallon of gas nationwide, it appears that the free market has achieved what environmentalists have been clamoring about for years -- to conserve fuel by buying smaller vehicles.

The top twenty best selling small cars for April 2008:

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Top ten best selling crossovers for April 2008

Overall, pickups and SUV sales were down 17.4% in April and are down 13.5% for the year to date. The one bright spot is the crossover and small wagon category, which was down 0.4% for the month but has edge up 1.9% for the year.

In general, crossover utility vehicles are built on car platforms, while traditional SUVs are built on truck frames. CUVs are smaller, lighter and get better gas mileage than big SUVs -- one way to think of them is that they are really modern station wagons, but shorter and with a higher profile.

This months list of the top ten selling crossovers features three vehicles from General Motors, and two each from Ford and Toyota. Also of note, the new Nissan Rogue made the list at number ten.

The top ten best selling crossovers for April 2008:

Continue reading "Top ten best selling crossovers for April 2008"

Top ten best selling cars for April 2008

With gas prices at record highs in the U.S., consumers are buying cars in greater percentage than light trucks and SUVs, a reversal of a long-term trend.

In April, 52.6% of vehicles sold were cars, a gain of 5.2% over the same month last year.

Of particular note is that both General Motors and Toyota both notched three cars apiece in the top ten.

The top ten best selling cars for April 2008:

Continue reading "Top ten best selling cars for April 2008"

May 2, 2008

Nissan April Sales Slightly Higher

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported sales of 75,855 units in April, an increase of 4,731 vehicle sales compared with April 2007.

- Nissan-brand vehicles saw sales of 66,318 units in April, compared with 61,179 during April 2007. Adjusted for a difference in the number of in selling days, this represents a 0.1 percent increase.

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May 1, 2008

Nissan GT-R delivers smoking track time

CASCAIS, Portugal -- Nissan today announced that its GT-R supercar achieved a lap time at the infamous Nurburgring in Germany of seven minutes and 29 seconds.

Recorded on April 16 and 17, the GT-R used was a base specification car and fitted with the standard Japanese market tires. Driven by GT-R chief test driver Tochio Suzuki, this latest lap time beats the previous fastest time for the GT-R by nine seconds.

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April 30, 2008

Steve Parrett named Nissan manufacturing communications manager

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Steve Parrett, communications manager in Nissan North America, Inc.’s South Central Region, will become Manager, Manufacturing Communications, based in Tennessee. His appointment is effective May 1.

In his new position, Parrett will be responsible for external communications activities involving NNA’s assembly plants in Smyrna, Tenn., and Canton, Miss., and the company’s powertrain plant in Decherd, Tenn.

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April 29, 2008

Nissan Develops Innovative Concept Car With X-by-Wire Technology

CASCAIS, Portugal -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today unveiled a new concept car called "EA2" equipped with X-by-Wire technology.

X-by-Wire technology uses wires and electrical impulses instead of mechanical linkages for the control of major systems such as steering, braking and transmission. This eliminates many restrictions in how vehicle systems are integrated, allowing greater flexibility in vehicle packaging. EA2 is based on the first generation Murano crossover.

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April 25, 2008

Urban freeriders hit the city streets for European championships

ROLLE, Switzerland -- Urban mountain bike freeriders will take street riding to a new level this weekend in Milan, as the world’s leading riders kick-off the fight for a €100,000 prize.

The Nissan Qashqai Challenge takes place on exciting bespoke courses in Milan, Madrid, and Munich during April and May where four spectacular weekend competitions will reach its climax at London’s Tate Modern art gallery on 24th May.

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April 22, 2008

Nissan Enters Light Truck Business in Russia

Tokyo -- Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., is announcing plans to enter the Russian light commercial vehicle (LCV) market in 2008. Nissan Motor Rus, will launch the NP300 pick up and the Cabstar light duty truck in September, this year. The range will be extended to six products by the end of 2011.

The vehicles will be sold through a network of specialised Nissan LCV centres, which will be constituted as part of the existing Nissan dealer network.

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April 18, 2008

Video: Chrysler Signs Deal with Nissan

Five significant stories from Chrysler LLC the week of April 18, 2008: Stories include: Chrysler and Nissan new agreements, National Dodge Journey Drive for the Kids School Challenge, GEMs in Washington, Frank Klegon kicks off SAE and Bob Nardelli closes SAE.

April 17, 2008

Nissan to issue green purchasing guidelines

TOKYO -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. will issue its Green Procurement Guidelines in April 2008, defining a set of environmental protocol to augment The Nissan-Renault Purchasing Way, which applies to all its global auto-parts and materials suppliers.

The newly issued NissanGreen Procurement Guideline replaces the previous Green Procurement Standards issued in 2001. The new guidelines include the following areas:

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Nissan expands UK axle shop

Sunderland, UK -- Nissan is to create 128 jobs at its plant in Sunderland in response to the continued sales success of the award-winning Qashqai.

In January, Nissan announced that the plant had launched one of its largest ever recruitment campaigns to hire 800 staff, ahead of the implementation of a third production shift in June.

The plant is now looking to recruit extra staff as its axle production shop undergoes a £5 million expansion to support a significant increase in Qashqai volume. Of the 128 posts needed to staff the new axle operation, 50 are in addition to the 800 previously announced.

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Nissan Barcelona Plant Cuts CO2 Emissions by 12% Since 2005

BARCELONA -- Nissan Motor Co.’s Barcelona plant, its biggest manufacturing plant in Spain, has reduced CO2 emissions by 9,400 tonnes or 12% since 2005, exceeding the company’s 2010 target for its plants around the world.

The 2010 target calls for a 7% reduction in plant CO2 emissions compared with the level in 2005.

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April 15, 2008

Chrysler and Nissan Confirm New OEM Product Agreements

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. and TOKYO -- Chrysler LLC and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced two new agreements for the supply of products between both companies.

In January, Nissan agreed to supply Chrysler with a new car based on the Nissan Versa sedan for limited distribution in South America on an Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) basis in 2009.

This new OEM exchange benefits both companies through range extension and the utilization of global manufacturing capacity. Highlights of the new agreement:

Continue reading "Chrysler and Nissan Confirm New OEM Product Agreements"

April 8, 2008

Nissan Enters Light Truck Business in North America

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today announced it is entering the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) business through a significant investment in North America.

NNA, as part of a global commitment to the segment, has announced it will introduce to the North American market three light commercial vehicles in three years and forge partnerships with Cummins Inc. for the engines and ZF Friedrichshafen AG for the transmissions.

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April 7, 2008

Nissan unveils QASHQAI+2

As market rivals start to catch up with the segment defining QASHQAI, Nissan has already moved the goalposts: the top selling compact Crossover has expanded its offer with a seven-seat version. Called QASHQAI+2, the newest Nissan builds on the success of the original QASHQAI by adding space and versatility to create the first Family Crossover.

Not content with breaking sales records, Nissan’s QASHQAI - the segment defining compact Crossover - is ready to break new boundaries.

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April 6, 2008

Nissan Lease Deals for April

Nissan is offering the following lease deals for April:

2008 350Z MT Lease -- 36 Months - $369/Month - $2,999 initial payment.

2008 Altima Coupe 2.5S CVT Lease -- 36 Months - $269/Month - $2,999 initial payment.

2008 Altima 2.5S CVT Lease -- 36 Months - $199/Month - $2,999 initial payment.

2008 Altima 2.5 Hybrid eCVT Lease -- 39 Months - $339/Month - $2,999 initial payment.

Continue reading "Nissan Lease Deals for April"

April 5, 2008

April Nissan Rebates Available at CurrentAutoRebates.com

Nissan is offering up to a $3,250 rebate on the Pathfinder SUV, $3,500 on the Quest minivan and $1,500 on the Sentra sedan. Low interest financing is also available.

Programs end 4/30/08.

If you would like to research current auto rebates for all make and models for sale in the United States, check out CurrentAutoRebates.com, a fabulous service that allows you to check up on all rebate programs through a handy PDF report. The service is free and available now!

April 4, 2008

Nissan sponsors mountain bike racing series

ROLLE, Switzerland -- Following last year’s success, Nissan is proud to announce the second urban mountain bike freeriding series. As part of Nissan’s Sports Adventure program, the challenge once again demonstrates the brand’s passion and commitment to adventure sports.

The Nissan Qashqai Challenge 2008 will consist of five contests in Italy, Spain, Germany, France and the UK and this year each event will see a variety of mountain bike disciplines. Once again, the series will offer the most important prize fund in any mountain biking event.

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April 3, 2008

Nissan Enviro Tech on Display at London Science Museum

TOKYO -- A scale model of Nissan’s highly distinctive Pivo electric concept and several other of the company’s environmental technologies will be showcased at the "The Science of Survival" exhibition which opens Saturday April 5 at the prestigious Science Museum in London.

The thought-provoking and interactive exhibition explores how our lives could be affected by environmental changes and resource availability by 2050. The exhibition was developed in consultation with scientists and researchers and is co-sponsored by Nissan.

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April 1, 2008

Nissan Reports March Sales

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported sales of 106,921 units in March, up 3.6 percent on a daily sales rate basis. NNA posted a sales increase of 3.0 percent for fiscal year 2007, ending March 31, 2008, versus FY06.

-- Nissan-brand vehicles saw sales of 93,100 units in March, a 3.1 percent increase on a daily sales rate basis compared with March's 97,242 units sold.

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March 24, 2008

The Nissan GT-R, In Exclusive Company

Available in the summer of 2008, the Nissan GT-R is obviously a male-oriented offering, featuring 480 horsepower at a relatively affordable starting price of $68,950. [Compared to Porsche, that is.]

Nissan is reporting that half of the first year's allotment have already been ordered -- meaning there will only be about 750 GT-Rs left for civilians to purchase.

But you will have to call ahead to check to see if your local Nissan dealer has the car anyway -- about half of the manufacturer's dealers have made the required investment to sell and service the vehicle, so no matter how you slice it, it's a pretty exclusive ride.

2009 Nissan Murano

Already on sale in the United States, the 2009 Nissan Murano has been totally redesigned from the ground up.

Notable improvements include the 3.5 liter V6 engine that produces 265 horsepower, an improved CVT transmission that delivers better fuel economy of 18 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway.

The improved suspension produces a smoother ride and makes steering more fluid. The 2009 Nissan Murano starts at $26,330.

March 21, 2008

2009 Nissan Maxima Recaptures Its Sports Car Feel

The 2009 Nissan Maxima, which makes its world debut at the 2008 New York International Auto Show, marks a return to the longtime Nissan flagship sedan’s roots as a commanding 4-door sports car – a vehicle that is unique in both appearance and driving feel, with renewed relevance for today’s active and ambitious sedan buyers. In other words, the Maxima is back.

The all-new 2009 Maxima will be offered as two well-equipped models, Maxima 3.5 S and Maxima 3.5 SV, and is scheduled to arrive at Nissan dealers nationwide in early summer 2008.

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March 20, 2008

Hitch Mounted Bicycle Rack Campaign

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan and Infiniti are conducting a voluntary recall campaign on 480 Hitch Mounted Bicycle Racks (Nissan / Infiniti part number 999R5-AR000) manufactured by Thule and sold at both Nissan and Infiniti dealerships before December 21, 2007.

Thule determined a pinch point exists on the bicycle rack that could cause a serious hand injury.

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Nissan’s “Denki Cube” Electric Concept in New York

New York City is about to get a lesson in what happens when geography meets geometry – specifically, when the world, which is round, meets the Nissan Cube, which is essentially square.

The occasion is the world debut of the Nissan Denki (Japanese for “electric”) Cube Concept at the 2008 New York International Auto Show.

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March 19, 2008

New 2009 Maxima to Offer XM NavTraffic

NEW YORK -- XM, the nation's leading provider of satellite radio, today announced that the new 2009 Maxima will offer XM NavTraffic as a standard, factory-installed feature when equipped with Nissan's Hard Drive Navigation system.

XM is the exclusive satellite radio provider to Nissan, and every Nissan with the premium audio package is factory-equipped with XM Satellite Radio.

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March 18, 2008

Corvette Still #1 Most Requested Vehicles to Lease

CINCINNATI -- Automobile Consumer Services, Inc. (ACS), has released a list of the top 10 most requested vehicles from its popular auto leasing website www.LeaseCompare.com.

Information was collected during the second half of 2007 from more than two million lease quote requests.

Continue reading "Corvette Still #1 Most Requested Vehicles to Lease"

March 13, 2008

Nissan Barcelona Plant Cuts CO2 Emissions by 12%

BARCELONA -- Nissan Motor Co.'s Barcelona plant, its biggest manufacturing plant in Spain, has reduced CO2 emissions by 9,400 tonnes or 12% since 2005, exceeding the company's 2010 target for its plants around the world.

The 2010 target calls for a 7% reduction in plant CO2 emissions compared with the level in 2005.

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March 12, 2008

Management Changes at Nissan Europe

ROLLE, SWITZERLAND -- Nissan International SA today announced several key changes to its European senior management, effective from April 1st, 2008.

Brian CAROLIN, currently Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, Nissan International SA, is appointed Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, Nissan North America.

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New crash tests of SUVs: Nissan Murano is Top Safety Pick

ARLINGTON, VA — The best overall performer in front, side, and rear tests of nine 4-door midsize SUV models is the redesigned 2009 Nissan Murano, which earns the Top Safety Pick award. The tests were recently conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Jeep Liberty, Jeep Wrangler 4-door, and Kia Sorento, all 2008 models, are the worst performers in the side test. The Liberty, also sold as the Dodge Nitro, and Wrangler earn the second lowest rating of marginal for protection in side crashes. The Sorento earns the lowest rating of poor.

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Senior Management Changes at Nissan North America

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc. today announced two important changes to the leadership of the sales and marketing functions and engineering functions.

Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing Mark McNabb has decided to leave the company for personal reasons. Brian Carolin, currently senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan Europe, will succeed McNabb and be based at the company's headquarters in Nashville, Tenn.

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March 11, 2008

Nissan Europe Reports February Sales for 2008

ROLLE, Switzerland -- Nissan Europe has reported a record February with sales of 53,606 units, representing an increase of 65% year on year. Sales were up for the eleventh consecutive month.

The Qashqai compact cross-over is celebrating its first anniversary on the European market and the success story continues with yet again another record month of 15,286 units. The first year of sales recorded 148,534 units meaning that one in four Nissan models sold across Europe is now a Qashqai.

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March 5, 2008

Tax Credits for Hybrid Cars

The deadline for filing taxes is right around the corner, and if you purchased a hybrid vehicle in 2007, the following list can tell you what type of tax credit you can expect to receive on your 2007 return.

Thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, certain hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles can earn credits of up to $4,000. To be eligible for the Energy Policy Act of 2005, vehicles have to fall into one of four categories: fuel cell, advance lean burn technology, hybrid or alternative fuel. Currently, the only mass-market cars that qualify are hybrids and one alternative-fuel car, the Honda Civic GX.

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March 3, 2008

Nissan Announces February Sales Down 2.9%

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported sales of 86,219 units in February versus 85,218 units in February 2007, down 2.9 percent on a daily sales rate basis.

Nissan-brand vehicles saw sales of 76,151 units, a 3.2 percent decrease on a daily sales rate basis compared with last year's 75,514 units sold. On a total monthly volume basis, February 2008 was the best February sales month on record. Excluding fleet sales, February sales were up 2.9 percent on a daily sales rate basis.

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Nissan's Cube-ism: Art Students Help Introduce Mini Vehicle to U.S.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America announced in October its Cube-ism: Automobile Meets Art project, a collaboration with students from Brooks Institute and Pratt Institute, designed to introduce the Nissan Cube to the U.S.

The project puts the Nissan Cube, currently sold only in Japan, into the hands of these U.S. film and design students to create provocative films and designs that communicate the Nissan Cube's unique personality and style.

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February 26, 2008

Nissan Announces Partnership With Nashville Symphony

Nashville, Tenn.-- Nissan North America and the Nashville Symphony announced today a five-year partnership, aimed at expanding music education for children of Middle Tennessee.

Nissan’s $500,000 contribution to the Nashville Symphony, distributed over the next five years, will provide support for the Symphony’s new education initiative called “One Note, One Neighborhood at a Time.” This program—using the Stratford school system in East Nashville as a flagship—will be presented on April 2, 2008 at the Dan Mills Elementary School.

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February 22, 2008

Mobil 1 Selected as Factory Motor Oil for Nissan GT-R Supercar

FAIRFAX, Va. -- ExxonMobil today announced that Mobil 1 has been selected as the factory fill motor oil for the Nissan GT-R, the newly launched high performance vehicle featuring an all-new 3.8-litre twin turbo V6 "VR38" engine.

Nissan selected synthetic engine oil as the initial fill for the GT-R because of its friction reducing capabilities and high-temperature performance. Mobil 1, the world’s leading synthetic motor oil, was selected as the Nissan GT-R’s factory fill. Mobil 1 is also recommended for follow-on service fills.

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February 21, 2008

Nissan to Co-Sponsor "The Science of Survival"

TOKYO -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., announced today that it will co-sponsor "The Science of Survival," the first exhibition of its kind, which opens at the Science Museum, London, on Saturday April 5. The London exhibition will last until Sunday Nov. 2 before embarking on a five-year global tour.

In this fun, interactive exhibition, which explores what our lifestyles could be in 2050, Nissan will showcase several of its environmental technologies in the "Moving" area, including its compact lithium-ion battery and a quarter scale model of the Pivo electric vehicle concept.

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February 19, 2008

Nissan Official Partner of EVER Monaco 2008

TRAPPES, France -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., is taking another opportunity to showcase its latest environmental innovations by becoming an official partner of EVER Monaco 2008, an automotive show devoted to Ecological Vehicles and Renewable Energies.

The Expo, which is held in the Principality from 27-30 March, is dedicated to all forms of transport powered by fuels offering a real ecological benefit. The spotlight will fall on vehicles powered by electricity, fuel cell, gas and bio fuels as well as on hybrids.

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February 14, 2008

Infiniti Ready to Take on Europe

PARIS -- Infiniti and its range of performance sedans, coupes and crossovers has been in existence for almost 20 years. 2008 and the 78th International Geneva Motor Show marks the brand's introduction into Western Europe, the toughest luxury market in the world.

To celebrate this important milestone, Infiniti will use the show timing to stage the global premiere of the second generation of the iconic FX performance crossover. Never before has a new Infiniti been revealed outside of the US.

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February 13, 2008

Best Selling Crossovers in the U.S. -- January 2008

The crossover segment is one of the few bright spots in the new vehicle sales reports, with January 2008 sales up 15.1%. As we've pointed out, much of that increase comes at the expense of minivan sales, which were down 18.3% last month.

While crossovers appear to be just small SUVs, they differ from the traditional ute by being built on unibody frames, just like cars, as opposed to being like trucks, which are body on frame construction. In other words crossovers are either tall cars or reconfigured station wagons. But most people call them SUVs. Because they look like one.

Bottom line, consumers are buying more of them because they get better gas mileage, typically handle more like cars, thus being easier to drive than big SUVs. Though we think it's more of a generational shift -- the SUV had its day and is giving way to a new trend.

The best selling crossovers for January 2008 are as follows:

Continue reading "Best Selling Crossovers in the U.S. -- January 2008"

Best Selling Pickups in the U.S. -- January 2008

Pickup truck sales were off 5% in January 2008, with 126,490 units sold, versus 133,159 sold last January.

The Ford F-150 is still number one, but the Chevy Silverado is gaining ground, all the while the Toyota Tundra is chewing up the segment by selling nearly double the numbers of vehicles compared to last year.

The best selling pickups in the U.S. for January 2008 are as follows:

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February 11, 2008

Nissan Europe Reports January Sales for 2008

TRAPPES, France -- Nissan Europe has reported a record January with sales of 50,542 units, representing an increase of 71.9% year on year and where sales were up for the tenth consecutive month.

Much of this significant increase year on year was attributed to the new models in the range. Firstly, the Qashqai compact cross-over, which was launched in March 2007, resulted in 14,556 incremental sales in January.

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February 9, 2008

Updated: February Nissan Rebates Available at CurrentAutoRebates.com

Nissan is offering up to a $3,250 rebate on the Pathfinder SUV, $2,000 on the Quest minivan and $1,250 on the Sentra sedan. Low interest financing is also available.

Programs end 3/3/08.

Since rebate programs from different manufacturers can change a couple times a month, we urge you to sign up for free updates at this page, to ensure you'll always have the latest info with which to make an informed purchase.

The service is free and available now!

Nissan Donates $120,000 to Tennessee Tornado Victims

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nissan North America, Inc., today said it would donate $120,000 in cash to the American Red Cross Nashville Area Chapter to assist with relief efforts in Tennessee after tornadoes ripped through the state earlier in the week.

“Tennessee is our home so we felt a responsibility to help our neighbors,” said Dominique Thormann, senior vice president, Administration and Finance. “As a corporation, we are committed to helping the communities in which we live and work especially in time of need.”

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February 8, 2008

Nissan Europe Announces Senior Sales Management Changes

TRAPPES, France -- Nissan Europe has announced two senior management changes in its sales and marketing functions, effective from April 1st, 2008.

Stéphane Cottin, currently managing director Nissan Italy S.r.l, is appointed vice president, marketing, Nissan Europe, replacing Paul Willcox, who becomes managing director of Nissan Motor GB.

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February 6, 2008

2009 Nissan GT-R Supercar: Pre-Orders Now Being Taken!

CHICAGO -- Nissan today announced that the all-new Nissan GT-R supercar is now available for pre- ordering at 691 officially certified Nissan dealers across the United States.

The 2009 Nissan GT-R, equipped with a 480-horsepower, twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 engine and advanced 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $69,850 for the GT-R and $71,900 for the GT-R Premium model (exclusive if Destination & Handling).

Customer deliveries of the new GT-R are scheduled to begin in June 2008.

Continue reading "2009 Nissan GT-R Supercar: Pre-Orders Now Being Taken!"

February 5, 2008

Top Ten Best Selling Cars in the U.S. -- January 2008

The top ten best selling cars in the United States for January 2008 are led once again by Japanese automakers, taking up the top five positions. General Motors has four vehicles on the list, rounded out by the Ford Focus, in the #10 slot.

The top ten best selling cars in the U.S. for January '08 are as follows:

Continue reading "Top Ten Best Selling Cars in the U.S. -- January 2008"

February 3, 2008

Nissan Rogue Halftime Ad

This ad for the Nissan Rogue, with the tagline, "so far ahead," has good production quality with impressive visuals and a surprising amount of screen time dedicated to ipod functionality -- but, yeah, people are buying rolling speaker systems for their flash players.

In our opinion, screen time showing the car is important and the Rogue is well displayed here.

February 2, 2008

Current Auto Rebates Has All the Updated Rebates!

With auto sales down 4.3% in January 2008, many automakers are increasing the rebate and incentive offers they have on the hoods of their vehicles.

Yet keeping track of all the rebate programs can be difficult work, which is why we began publishing Current Auto Rebates, the Internet's first document that lists every rebate program for every vehicle for same in the United States.

This 13-page PDF makes it easy for you to look up rebates on any model you're interested in, and even allows you to contact your local dealer who will give you a free price quote on the ride of your choice.

Since rebate programs can change several times per month, you may want to sign up for free updates to the publication -- when we update the document you'll get an email from us letting you know a refreshed version is available for you to download.

And if someone you know is currently shopping for a new vehicle, you may want to download a copy and email it to them -- they'll thank you for doing so!

Management Change at Nissan North America

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Gary Frigo, currently managing director, Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd., will be appointed regional vice president for Nissan North America's Northeast region, effective April 1.

Frigo succeeds Al Castignetti, who recently was named vice president and general manager, Nissan Division at NNA's headquarters in Nashville.

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February 1, 2008

Nissan Reports January Sales Down 7.3%

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc. today reported sales of 76,605 units in January, down 7.3 percent from the prior year.

Nissan Division sales decreased 7.8 percent over last year. Infiniti Division sales declined 3.6 percent versus the prior year.

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Nissan Net Income Up 26.6%

TOKYO -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007, ending March 31, 2008, as well as for the first nine months.

In the third quarter, consolidated net income after tax came to 132.2 billion yen (US $1.13 billion, euro 0.81 billion), up 26.6% compared with the same period a year ago. The improvement in net income reflects the success of recent product introductions, strong sales in the General Overseas Markets (GOM) and a favorable tax position.

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January 31, 2008

Nissan Qashqai Success Creates 800 New Jobs

Nissan is to recruit 800 additional staff and implement a third production shift at its manufacturing plant in Sunderland in response to a record production year and continuing high demand for the award-winning Qashqai.

Since its European launch in March 2007, sales of the popular crossover car have reached 130,000 units and, as a result, last June Nissan boosted production at Sunderland by 20% to help meet demand.

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January 30, 2008

The Great Rebate War of 2008: Pickups Fire the First Shot

Even though auto execs are swearing that 2008 won't be a year of big rebates, the economic forecast suggests reality may force their hand before the summer selling season.

In just the first month, we are already seeing significant rebates being offered; regular readers already know about our new publication, Current Auto Rebates that lists all rebates for every make and model.

After sales results for January are posted, we will probably see even more money being placed on the hood, but for now, consider the amounts that pickup makers are already floating -- the lowest is GMC with $2,000 for the Sierra, then Toyota with $2,500 for the Tundra. Ford and Chevy are pretty moderate, but mah god Nissan and Dodge are giving away five and six grand respectively.

In our view, there is going to be a great rebate war in 2008, and as you can see from the list below, pickups have already established a beachhead.

January Rebates for Pickup Trucks:
-- Ford F-150: $2,500 or low APR
-- Chevy Silverado: $3,250 or $1,750 and low APR
-- Dodge Ram: $6,000 or $2,500 and low APR
-- Toyota Tundra: $2,000 or low APR
-- Nissan Titan: $5,000 or low APR
-- GMC Sierra: $2,000 or low APR

With Home Prices Dropping, Car Prices Are Sure to Follow

It's accepted wisdom now that overall auto sales will drop in 2008. This is seen as a function of the housing bust, during which as much as 20% of new car purchases were funded by residential real estate profit, home equity cashouts and the general euphoria in real estate related industries.

Now that home prices are dropping -- and will continue to do so until they fall in line with median income -- we believe the average new vehicle transaction price will drop as well. If houses can fall 10%-30% in value, why not cars?

In November we ran a story from Comerica Bank stating the average transaction price of a new vehicle was $29,024. Our projection is this number will fall below $25,000, perhaps in 2009 if not this year, for several reasons:

1. Less money to spend. The option of taking cash out of a home to finance a new purchase is gone. The psychology of spending "free money" to buy a luxe ride will give way to folks actually having to make the payment out of their own pocket. And with many people paying even more for housing due to adjustable rates, they will choose cheaper rides.

2. Gas prices. While $3 a gallon gas isn't as draconian as five bucks, it will have an effect over time. People are already choosing more efficient crossovers and smaller SUVs over the big buses, and V8s are going out of favor. Look for more people to choose V6s in cars and for four-cylinders to pick up in popularity.

3. Negative equity. A greater percentage of folks are upside down in their cars, and have been rolling their balances into new loan agreements. To catch up, their new purchases will have to be cheaper and it's going to take years to eat away at the balance.

4. New frugality. In a tough economy, the value of money becomes more dear. People will start thinking twice about how much money they spend. They will choose cheaper cars, perhaps with more options, but the luxe-marques are in for a rough ride.

5. New wage structures. The Detroit car companies have made big headlines with their new labor deals, that allow them to replace higher paid union workers with new hires at a lower wage scale. The higher wages translated into higher sticker prices; the lower wages will allow for slimmer price hikes and even reductions.

6. Battle for fewer consumers. Don't let the tough talk fool you. As fewer cars are sold throughout 2008, the rebate war will kick into full swing -- and spiffs will help bring down the average transaction price.

This last reason is why we launched Current Auto Rebates, a site that publishes all the rebates for every model in a single PDF file, to make bargain hunting that much easier.

January 27, 2008

2008 Nissan Xterra Rebates Available at Current Auto Rebates.com

The 2008 Nissan Xterra has a $2,500 rebate or 1.9% financing available; program ends 2/4/08. The 2008 Nissan Xterra base price -- $20,050.

Click here to get your free 2008 Nissan Xterra price quote!