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Today, at the New York
International Auto Show, the
100-percent electric,
zero-emission Nissan LEAF was
named 2011 World Car of the
Year, edging out the BMW
5-Series and the Audi A8 for the
top spot. Today’s award is the
latest in a string of accolades
for the world’s first affordable
mass-market, all-electric
vehicle for the global market,
which was also named European
Car of the Year.
“It is a great joy that the
world’s first, mass-marketed
electric vehicle, the Nissan
LEAF, has won the prestigious
award of 2011 World Car of the
Year,” said Nissan Chairman and
CEO Carlos Ghosn. “This accolade
recognises Nissan LEAF, a
pioneer in zero-emission
mobility, as comparable in its
driving performance, quietness
and superb handling to
gas-powered cars. And it
validates Nissan’s clear vision
and the values of sustainable
mobility that we want to offer
to customers around the world.”
The World Car Awards jurors
observed that, “The LEAF is the
gateway to a brave new electric
world from Nissan. This
5-seater, 5-door hatchback is
the world's first,
purpose-built, mass-produced
electric car. It has a range of
over 100 miles on a full charge
claims Nissan, takes around
eight hours to recharge using
220-240V power supply and
produces zero tailpipe
emissions. Its low centre of
gravity produced sharp turn-in
with almost no body roll and no
understeer. The good news? It
feels just like a normal car,
only quieter.”
The World Car of the Year
competition was launched in
2004, with winners chosen by a
panel of automotive journalists
from Asia, Europe and North
America.
Nissan LEAF is available in
Japan, the United States and
select European markets and will
be released in other global
markets in 2012. The vehicle is
currently built at Nissan’s
Oppama, Japan plant. It will
also be manufactured at the
company’s Smyrna, Tenn., plant
in the United States in late
2012 and at Nissan’s Sunderland
plant in the United Kingdom by
early 2013.
Aiming to be the world leader in
zero-emission vehicles, Nissan,
with its Alliance partner,
Renault, has formed partnerships
with more than 90 governments,
cities and other organisations
around the world not only to
develop and produce EV and
lithium-ion batteries but also
to promote sustainable mobility.
Nissan is also taking a
comprehensive approach to
encourage the world to more
sustainable mobility such as
improvement of charging service,
infrastructure deployment, the
promotion of the use of recycled
materials and overall energy
management system including
second-life use of lithium-ion
batteries. |
