Car Blog

Nissan announced that it is the first Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to offer Quick Response (QR) codes on individual vehicle window stickers across its entire lineup, beginning with 2012 models.  Rolled out in June with the launch of the 2012 Nissan Altima and Sentra, the QR codes link consumers to additional vehicle information, providing a free, enhanced interactive shopping experience via the most popular web-enabled iPhone, Android and BlackBerry devices.

“Nissan’s new QR code program puts important decision-making information at shoppers’ fingertips while on dealership lots, helping sales personnel make a more effective presentation, as well as providing customers with a ‘silent salesperson’ if they are shopping the lot after hours,” said Jon Brancheau, vice president, Marketing, Nissan North America, Inc.  ”It’s a true mass market effort across all products and all Nissan dealerships nationwide – part of our pledge to bring innovation to every aspect of the vehicle design, buying and ownership experience.”

The Nissan “On Vehicle Graphics” system utilizes QR code technology, which is easily accessed by a large group of customers through a wide array of QR code readers. Read the rest of this entry »

Nissan North America Inc. is expanding availability of the all-electric Nissan LEAF to U.S. consumers for the 2012 model year, with upgrades based on feedback from the thousands of owners who already have driven several millions of miles in the first 100-percent electric car for the mass market.

The Nissan LEAF, enriched with additional standard equipment including quick charging and cold-weather features for the 2012 model year, now will be available for order in the Southeastern United States and Illinois.

“Many enthusiastic consumers have eagerly anticipated ordering a Nissan LEAF of their own, and now we can make zero-emissions mobility a reality in more markets,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan North America. “In response to direct feedback from Nissan LEAF owners, the features that customers want most will come standard on the 2012 Nissan LEAF – including quick charging and cold-weather features.” Read the rest of this entry »

In an effort to provide used-car shoppers with improved access to information on open safety and emissions recalls, Nissan North America (NNA) announced it will begin sharing this information for Nissan and Infiniti vehicles with Carfax.

By providing vehicle identification numbers (VINs) with open recalls to Carfax, NNA is working to ensure that customers can access this information through a convenient third-party database. Updated VINs will be provided to Carfax on a weekly basis and will enhance recall campaign awareness and encourage campaign repair completion.

“We strive to have recall campaign work completed in a timely fashion,” said John Spoon, vice president, Parts and Service, NNA. “By working with Carfax we are making it easier for customers to determine if a vehicle has an open campaign and encouraging campaign service completion.”

Millions of used car buyers and sellers every year rely on Carfax Vehicle History Reports as part of their used-car evaluations. Open recall campaign information reported to Carfax for Nissan and Infiniti vehicles will appear on Carfax Vehicle History Reports and also will be available free to consumers at recall.carfax.com.

“Carfax and Nissan North America are committed to keeping our roadways safe,” said Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax. “Adding Nissan and Infiniti to the list of manufacturers providing open recall campaign information to Carfax helps notify car owners and buyers and gets these cars into dealerships to be fixed.”

Nissan North America brought sustainable mobility to Texas with the arrival of the state’s first all-electric Nissan LEAF.

The Sauers family took delivery of their blue Nissan LEAF SL at Clear Lake Nissan of League City, Texas. This groundbreaking moment follows last month’s deliveries in Northern and Southern California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Tennessee.

Jimmy Sauers, along with his wife Christie and their three daughters, live in Seabrook, TX, a suburb of Houston. Jimmy is an engineer and analyst for Reliant Energy while Christie is an engineer for NASA.

“Electricity is the new fuel for cars, and the Nissan LEAF has the potential to transform the automotive industry and the way people drive,” said Carlos Tavares, chairman, Nissan Americas. “Starting today, drivers in Houston have the freedom to choose a future that produces zero tailpipe emissions, moves away from our dependence on fossil fuels and represents the end of trips to the gas station. This Nissan LEAF delivery signifies the dawn of a movement that brings sustainable mobility to within our grasp.”

In November 2009 Nissan announced that it was entering into an agreement with the retail electric provider, Reliant Energy of Houston to advance zero-emission mobility. A similar partnership with the City of Houston was formed in February 2010 that also helped pave the way for the introduction of the Nissan LEAF in Texas.

NRG Energy, Inc., the parent company of Reliant Energy, recently launched the nation’s first privately funded, comprehensive electric vehicle charging ecosystem in Houston called eVgo(SM). The Sauers have chosen eVgo’s Mobile Plan and Reliant’s EV Owner’s Plan for their new Nissan LEAF providing them with power for their home charger and unlimited access to the city’s charging ecosystem.

“We are very pleased to have the owners of the first Nissan LEAF in Texas select eVgo to keep their vehicle charged wherever they go in the city and ultimately across the entire Texas Triangle,” said Arun Banskota, president of NRG’s Electric Vehicle Services.

“Today marks a dramatic shift in the way Houstonians will be driving,” said Annise Parker, mayor of Houston. “Electric vehicles are now a real and viable part of our future. We look forward to working with Nissan and continuing to make Houston a cleaner and greener city in which to live and work.”

The delivery is Nissan’s first in Texas in 2011 as the company delivered the first Nissan LEAF vehicles to each of its primary launch markets in December 2010 to Northern and Southern California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Tennessee. Nissan also donated $25,000 to the World Wildlife Fund to mark the occasion.

Nissan is on track for a nationwide launch of the Nissan LEAF by 2012, with Hawaii next to roll out later this month. In order to fulfill interest and meet demand in initial launch markets, Nissan plans to reopen reservations in the first half of 2011 as well as shift timing of additional markets until the second half of 2011.

Nissan North America officially launched production of its all-new 2012 Nissan NV commercial van with Job One ceremonies at its expanded Canton, MS assembly facility.

In attendance at the ceremony were Nissan Americas Chairman Carlos Tavares, Nissan Manufacturing and Purchasing Senior Vice President Bill Krueger, Nissan Manufacturing Canton Vice President Dan Bednarzyk, Nissan Commercial Vehicles Vice President Joe Castelli, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Gray Swoope.

The Canton facility, originally opened in 2003, underwent a two-year, $118 million expansion to accommodate production of the new Nissan NV, including:

• A 14,499 square foot Body Assembly Shop expansion
• Modification of 79,200 square feet of existing Body Assembly Shop
• Modifications to 59,000 square feet of existing Paint Shop plus the addition of 49,000 square feet
• And a new assembly line in the existing Trim and Chassis Shop Read the rest of this entry »

Nissan North America announced a new program offering a choice of a no-charge commercial upfit package or no-charge exterior graphics package for businesses purchasing or leasing a new Nissan NV1500, NV2500 HD or NV3500 HD commercial van.  The no-charge upgrade program is offered through Nissan Commercial Vehicle dealers to qualified commercial businesses.  The 2012 Nissan NV is the company’s first entry into the commercial vehicle market in the United States and features a starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $24,590.

The 2012 Nissan NV features durable body-on-frame construction and choice of standard roof or industry-exclusive high roof configurations.  Models include the NV1500 with standard 4.0-liter V6 engine, the NV2500 HD with a choice of 4.0-liter V6 or 5.6-liter V8 and the NV3500 HD with standard 5.6-liter V8.  All NV models are equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission.

“As part of our commitment to providing ‘innovation for business,’ we’re taking an innovative approach to offering added business solutions – high quality cargo management packages or an industry exclusive offering of custom exterior graphics – right from the launch of the exciting new Nissan NV,” said Joe Castelli, vice president, Nissan Commercial Vehicles and Fleet, NNA.  ”We know commercial vehicle buyers customize their vehicles to meet their business needs, and we want to be part of the solution for them.”

The no-charge commercial upfit packages are from Adrian Steel and include the choice of a Cargo Management System with a steel cabin/cargo partition and three 44-inch shelving units, or a Utility Package featuring a steel cabin/cargo partition and an exterior (Standard Roof) or interior (High Roof) utility rack.  The no-charge graphics package is available from Original Wraps and offers up to 70 square feet of professionally designed, exterior graphic material (installation included).  Qualified commercial buyers can also opt for a $300 rebate in lieu of the upfit or graphic packages.