Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. is marking its 80th anniversary with ‘Nissan 360', a month-long showcase of the latest breakthroughs in vehicle technology, sustainability and market expansion by one of the world's leading automotive groups. The program will highlight the latest models and engineering innovations in a series of briefings and testing opportunities for over 1,000 media, investors, suppliers, dealers and industry experts. “Nissan is proud to be at the cutting-edge of automotive technology, with exciting prospects that will help shape the future use, brand appeal and environmental impact of vehicles amid continued global growth in overall vehicle demand,” said Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO. Ghosn will lead Nissan senior executives hosting the exclusive briefings, expected to include significant announcements on new technologies and brand expansion. Nissan 360 will involve more than 100 Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun cars, as well as light commercial vehicles. These vehicles will be tested on several specially designed courses over the coming weeks at the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station site in southern California. The event coincides with Nissan's continued execution of Power 88, the mid-term business plan announced in June 2011, that is targeting 8 percent global market share and 8 percent operating margins by the end of fiscal year 2016. As part of Nissan 360, the company is expected to re-emphasize its ambitions in zero-emission vehicles, where it is the global market leader thanks to the LEAF, the best-selling electric vehicle in history. Nissan has sold more than 74,000 LEAFs, a bigger volume than all other electric vehicle manufacturers combined. The company is also likely to reveal further plans to build on its strong market presence in countries including China, the US, Mexico, Brazil, Russia and other territories. Stakeholders attending the exclusive briefings will gain an insight into technologies including safety systems, in-car connectivity and automation - all fields where Nissan has secured industry-leading positions. Audiences at the 360 event will also receive briefings on the brand strategies for Nissan group brands-Infiniti, the luxury premium carmaker, and Datsun, targeting entry-level markets. The updates come as Nissan is extending its global presence through its long-standing Alliance with Renault, complemented by more recent partnerships in different vehicle or engineering segments with Daimler, Mitsubishi Motors, AvtoVAZ, Dongfeng and Ashok Leyland. “Nissan is poised for further growth and innovation developments after 80 years of trend-setting in our industry,” added Ghosn. “This is an opportunity to celebrate that contribution to a vital business segment, while signaling the very real opportunities we face to transform vehicle usage for generations to come.” Nissan 360 marks the third time since the 1999 creation of the Renault-Nissan Alliance that the Japanese carmaker has hosted a major global event to demonstrate its new technologies, latest models and potential market innovations. — SG
