Nissan Leaf Wins 2011 World Car of the Year

Brian Carolin accepts the WCOTY award

NEW YORK, N.Y. (April 20, 2011) - 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 recognizes 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 8 hours to recharge using 220-240V power supply and produces zero tailpipe emissions. Its low center 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 also will 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 organizations 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 to 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.

Check out our Nissan Leaf Blog

Nissan Ranked #4 World's Most Innovative Company

We are pleased to announce that FastCompany.com listed the 50 Most Innovative Companies worldwide and Nissan was #4 on the list, beating top companies like Google, Netflix, ESPN, Amazon, and many more! 
















Here's the Article Explaining Why Nissan Was Picked:

4  NISSAN

For creating the Leaf, the first mass- market all- electric car

 Not long ago, Nissan was being pilloried for a lineup with few hybrid options, as well as CEO Carlos Ghosn's stubborn insistence on investing in unproven all-electric technology. Among the skeptics: his own employees. But with the Leaf, Ghosn has proven the naysayers shortsighted, and grabbed the lead for Nissan in the race toward truly sustainable transportation. Ghosn sat down with Fast Company to talk about the Leaf, the imperative to embrace change, and the hope of emerging markets.

Give us the 30-second sales pitch for the Leaf.

 This is the only zero-emission car on the market. Other electric cars use gasoline; this one, there is not one drop. It's fun to drive, but I can't describe it. The only way you'll discover it is by getting behind the wheel. There's no vibration, no smell, no noise. This is the future -- and everything else is going to look obsolete, like sending messages with pigeons.

Is this the end of the internal-combustion engine?

 No one is saying this is the solution. We're going to make different solutions. We're not going to stubbornly defend one technology. We are open enough to accept a solution that may not be the one I like, but the one that is needed.

This is not going to take the market by storm for one reason: There's not enough capacity. Our estimate is that electric cars will have 10% of the global market in 10 years. Some people say 5% or 1%, another study says 7%, but we'll start with 10%.

Who are your prime targets?

 Women and young people. Our problem is not selling the car. This is something people have been asking for. But the first electric cars were awful. They were selling for $100,000. Who's going to buy that? Then you have the Volt, which is, what, $40,000? This is $25,000 [after government incentives], but even that I consider expensive. I don't want to make a niche product.

How did Nissan get ahead in the all-electric race?

 It was a big decision to go in this direction in 2006. The first reason was we thought we could change the battery. We had technology to invest in. Number two, we had the consciousness that something had to be done about global warming. Number three, oil was becoming an issue -- not only an environmental issue but a political issue. A trade issue. Then, a fourth element was that the Asian markets were exploding. In 10 years, you're not going to have 700 million cars driven every day on the planet; you're going to have 2 billion. If you already have an emissions problem with 700 million cars, what problems are you going to have with 2 billion?

Did you have to overcome opposition from your 350,000 employees?

 Of course. We had to explain why electric is huge for the industry. People need to feel the passion, vision, determination, and focus. I didn't say it was going to be easy or safe. I said it would be a challenge -- but if someone could do it, it would be us.

What in your background makes you adaptable?

 Change has always been part of my life. I was born in Brazil in a region that was not even a territory. If you saw a picture of Porto Velho then, you would be shocked. It was in the middle of the Amazon. I spent five years there, then went to Lebanon, then to France. Someone once said to me, "You know what an emerging market is because you've always been there." I don't need someone to tell me how people who don't have enough money are going to act, because I know.

What could CEOs in mature markets better understand about emerging markets?

 If you're already a CEO and you don't understand emerging markets, it's a little bit late. If you want to prepare somebody for the future, I would say you need to spend time in an emerging market. When I started my career, I spent one summer in a mine in the northern part of France. I worked from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. and learned about that life. For emerging markets it's the same--go spend one year in Brazil. Don't go to São Paulo; go into the countryside. Look at how people spend their time, what they do for fun. See how people live.

What common trends do you see among emerging markets?

 Tremendous hope for a better future. In the four big emerging markets--China, India, Russia, Brazil--people have no doubt that tomorrow is going to be better. Maybe it will take 5, 10, 20 years, but there is no doubt. Another thing: The car is one of the most desired objects, and people who buy a car for the first time aren't going to do it small. They want five seats, to pick their friends and family up. They get the biggest car they can afford.

It's tough to be calm when so much is changing.

 It is uncomfortable, but what makes our job interesting is that it's not routine. I can't imagine two years down the road I'll be doing the same thing I am doing today. I'll have to adjust. Every generation needs to learn how to relearn. With the electric car, we're hiring electricians and special-materials chemists, and we're telling our staff we have too many people with other skills. We say, You're going to have to adapt to the new technology. It's not easy, but it's not impossible. What you're learning today is good, but tomorrow you're going to need something else.

Here's a letter from the editor that's posted on the website as well: 



I sat down with the head of a major Hollywood studio this week, at a chic and exclusive destination in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood, and he plied me with tales of intrigue, drama, sudden collapse, and heartfelt resurgence. No, he wasn't pitching upcoming releases; he was telling me about his studio's business over the past year. It was a compelling saga, full of twists and characters and exotic foreign locales. Perhaps in a subsequent issue of Fast Company, you'll get to read all about it.


His drama couldn't unseat the business story of the year, though, which undoubtedly is Apple. How long before we see a film version of "The Invincible Apple" (which is the cover line we used last summer to capture Apple's triumphs)? Imagine Daniel Day-Lewis as Steve Jobs, struggling with health ailments, yet still zooming past his old rivals at Microsoft! The iPhone 4 gets crushing reviews from Consumer Reports -- and still sells like hotcakes! The iPad is ridiculed as a terrible name (remember those blogs?), yet becomes a ubiquitous cultural touchstone that spawns a new app ecosystem. In putting together this month's special package on the 2011 Most Innovative Companies, we really had no choice: Apple had to be No. 1.


There were other stories of the year, not least of which is the No. 1 from our 2010 list, Facebook. Founder Mark Zuckerberg deftly sidestepped the distractions of The Social Network, calmly guiding his company to an estimated $2 billion in revenue and a $50 billion valuation. Then there's Groupon's snubbing of Google -- and its charge toward a mega IPO.
But it takes more than a good story to earn a spot on our Most Innovative Companies list. No algorithm can adequately compare a worldwide auto business like Nissan (No. 4 this year) with a small, New York -- based not-for-profit like DonorsChoose.org (No. 21). Still, both have done extraordinary things in very different areas.


The goal of our list is to represent the breadth of innovation across the economy -- and to inspire our readers to engage with it. We try to include surprises, which is one reason we are biased against repeating businesses that have been on the list before. Is a company like China's Changchun Dacheng Industrial Group (No. 46) really more innovative than Hulu or Disney (neither of which made the list this year, though they are highlighted in Updates, beginning on page 18)? Tough call, yet Changchun Dacheng allows us to highlight how sophisticated Chinese manufacturing, science, and eco-industry have become -- a larger point that is more important than any one company.


Think of our Most Innovative Companies list as a tool we're using to deliver key information about innovation across the globe. And if 50 companies aren't enough for you -- plus the 32 in Updates, and 88 more in our Apple gatefold on page 71 -- check out our Top 10 lists: the 10 most innovative companies in 26 categories, from Brazil to biotech. On page 126, you'll see brief write-ups on six of those categories, and over the coming weeks we'll present fuller coverage on all of them on FastCompany.com. The combined experience, in print and digital -- well, we hope it's a hit.

Federal Tax Rebate for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

We are all trying to live a green lifestyle and be as eco-friendly as possible and there's no denying that the all-new Nissan Leaf is changing the way we travel. Check out this recent article posted on Automotive News about a Federal Tax Rebate for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles. 

Bill would hike cap on number of EVs eligible for U.S. rebate 

Written by Lauren Abdel-Razzaq of Automotive News

DETROIT -- Two Michigan congressmen want to expand the number of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles eligible for a federal tax rebate, one day after President Obama reiterated his commitment to put 1 million EVs on the road within four years.


U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich., proposed legislation in the House today and his brother, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., plans to introduce a similar bill in the Senate that would increase the per-manufacturer cap on the $7,500 tax credit from 200,000 vehicles to 500,000. 


The rebate was started as part of the Recovery Act of February 2009. It is currently available on five vehicles -- the Chevrolet Volt, the Tesla Roadster, the Nissan Leaf, the CODA sedan and the Wheego LiFe. It is phased out after a manufacturer sells 200,000 units. 


General Motors Co. has said the cap could hinder future sales of the Chevrolet Volt, which sells for $41,000, with delivery, before the credit.


To jumpstart EV demand, the White House also wants to change the $7,500 tax incentive currently available for buying an electric car into a rebate that consumers could use at the time of purchase. 


Obama has pledged to expand research and development in batteries and electric drivetrain, technology, including a 30 percent increase in federal grants.


“With more research and incentives, we can break our dependence on oil with biofuels, and become the first country to have a million electric vehicles on the road by 2015,” Obama said in his State of the Union Address.


The administration also is extending initiatives to improve electric vehicle infrastructure in U.S. cities. As many as 30 communities across the country would be able to receive grants of up to $10 million each to install public charging stations, electrified parking space access and fleet conversions.


Vice President Joe Biden visited Ener1 Inc., a lithium-ion battery manufacturer in suburban Indianapolis today, to jumpstart the administration's efforts.


Ener1 Inc. won a $118.5 million grant as part of the Recovery Act to expand production of batteries for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.


The grant allowed the supplier to add 120 jobs at its Indianapolis plants in 2010, according to a White House statement.


“Green vehicles represent the vanguard of automotive innovation, but they have to be economical for consumers and profitable for manufacturers,” Sander Levin said today in a statement. “Raising the cap on this credit will help carmakers reach the demand and production scale necessary for long-term viability.”


Read more: Autonews.com/

AIADA says Leaf is The People's Electric, Ready to Claim Power

Check out this recent article posted on AIADA's website.
(American International Automobile Dealers Association)

The People's Electric, Ready to Claim Power

The Nissan Leaf, a mildly futuristic four-door hatchback, arrives as so much a pioneer that the systems necessary to keep it moving down the road are still being put in place. The process is a bit like the progression of the first transcontinental railroad: tracks are being laid as a locomotive sits steaming impatiently behind. According to the New York Times' Jerry Garrett, the Leaf's equivalent of those unfinished tracks is a public charging infrastructure, the lack of which is probably the most serious limitation of all purely electric cars. Fast-charging stations, a necessity for longer treks, are few and far between now, but a network of them are planned to begin operating within the next year or so. At a starting price of $33,630, the Leaf is by far the least expensive battery-electric car produced in significant numbers. Garrett writes that the tendency is to drive it gingerly, but the Leaf can be driven vigorously. Its electric motor - just 107 horsepower, but with 207 pound-feet of torque - accelerates the 3,400-pound car to 60 mph in 9.4 seconds. Click here for a photo gallery of the Leaf. Click here to read Jerry Garrett's in-depth review of the Nissan Leaf at the New York Times.

The Nissan LEAF has arrived!

the day has finally come. the first run of Nissan LEAF™ vehicles are now being delivered to their rightful owners. to see how they are being received, just use the video link below and witness 100% electric history in the making. see videos   best-in-class mileage the EPA not only rated the 100% electric Nissan LEAF™ as a "Best in Class" for energy efficiency* but also gave it a "Best for the Environment" rating for tailpipe emissions* as well as making it the most energy efficient vehicle in the market. and with an MPG equivalent of 106 city/92 highway for a combined 99 MPGe, it's easy to see why. learn more win a Nissan LEAF™, it's now on tour it's official. the drive electric tour, sponsored by the 100% electric Nissan LEAF™, is now in full swing. to learn more about the tour and how to win your very own LEAF™, just use the link below. learn more Nissan LEAF™ has an online brochure there's much more to the 100% electric Nissan LEAF™ than you might think. to see it all, just check out the LEAF's dynamic online brochure. it describes bumper to bumper every innovation that makes up this historic car. see brochure become a Nissan LEAF™ panelist as a member of the Nissan LEAF™ Online Research Panel, you'll be invited to participate in special surveys. your opinions will help us better bring this historic vehicle to market. join now

FAQs q: does the battery location prevent the backseat from folding down? a: not at all - the battery is located in the floor of the car and won't interfere with interior space. q: what kind of stereo system does the Nissan LEAF have? can it play my iPod® Touch? a: the LEAF audio system is integrated to the unique navigation system and will support AM, FM, CD (w/WMA/MP3 capability) and USB interface for iPods and other MP3 players.   to see more, click here.

INNOVATION FOR THE PLANET. INNOVATION FOR ALL. NISSAN LEAF™