Category: Nissan News
Motor Technology Skills Development With Nissan SA
Posted by Group1 Nissan on 22 Dec 2022
Nissan support motor skills development at TVET colleges
Nissan South Africa has announced that it will be making donations to local educational institutions as part of an initiative to help improve motor technology skills in the country. With the growing skills gap in the automotive sector, this could greatly benefit students who are looking at potential study options in 2023.
How Nissan Is Helping Enhance Motor Technology Skills In South Africa
Nissan South Africa’s recent partnership with local tertiary institutions aims at promoting socio-economic development initiatives for the country. To help achieve this goal, the automaker has donated engines and other motor parts to UJ and five additional TVET colleges located in Gauteng, Limpopo, and the North-West. A total of R2 million in donations have been given by Nissan as part of their Motor Technology Enhancement Programme (MTEP).
The vehicle manufacturing company has set out to support skills development and training in higher education institutions across South Africa by backing projects designed to resolve societal issues. They have promised to better the lives of South Africans in areas like education, environmentalism and humanitarian aid.
Advancing Motor Technology Skills
The educational institutions to benefit from this generous donation includes colleges in Gauteng, the University of Johannesburg (UJ), Tshwane South, Waterberg, Vuselela, Central Johannesburg, Limpopo and the North West. Nissan’s donation of engine units consisting of engines, gearboxes, and differentials was made with the aim of addressing the current skills shortage, particularly in the following areas:
- motor body repair and spray painting
- petrol and diesel mechanics
- automotive welding
- vehicle bodybuilding
- auto electrical specialists which are likely the highest in demand
Nissan could secure the donation through the motor technology enhancement programme, which aims at keeping the motor technology curriculum up-to-date and responsive to changes in the automotive industry.
According to the Principal at Tshwane North College, Dr Thembi Tsibogo: “The engines will provide experiential training to students who are studying automotive programmes in the engineering faculty, and this will enable lecturers to enhance learning by providing practical demonstrations and application of the subject content.”
Dr Samuel Loyiso Gqibani, UJ’s head of the School for Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Technology said: “Having Nissan SA as our partner in the journey towards establishing an up-to-date motor technical programme with tools and state-of-the-art equipment is a dream come true for us.”
Filling The Skills Gap In The Automotive Sector
It is estimated that the automotive industry will face a shortage of 2.3 million skilled workers by 2025 and 4.3 million by 2030. The shortage of qualified workers in this sector can be addressed through initiatives like MTEP, which support development and training in tertiary institutions.
The donations from the Nissan Motor Technology Enhancement Programme will go a long way towards helping to fill the gap created by the skills shortages in South Africa and meeting the demand for skilled automotive professionals over the next decade. By investing more in education, particularly in motor technology, the automotive industry will have a better chance of thriving in a global environment.
With Nissan’s donations, local tertiary institutions are now well-equipped to offer their students advanced motor technology training and thereby produce highly qualified employees for the automotive industry. This could prove to be a major turning point in South Africa’s quest to become a leader in the automotive sector.
Nissan Donates Engines To Enhance Motor Technology Curriculums
Nissan Is Bridging The Gap Between Education And Industry
Nissan is setting an example of how corporate investment can be used to bridge the gap between education and industry in order to help drive economic growth and development. The automotive company has also shown its commitment to driving socio-economic change towards a better future for South Africans.
According to the country director at Nissan South Africa, Kabelo Rabotho: “Nissan’s approach towards advanced teaching and skills development was informed by its commitment towards advancing the UN’s Sustainable Goal of inclusive and quality education, furthering South Africa’s Automotive Master Plan 2035, which commits the industry to the development of new technologies and skills, and Nissan’s own sustainability strategy pillar of realising a more inclusive society.”
The donations made by Nissan will undoubtedly result in a positive long-term impact, such as increased employability for graduates and a more competitive South African automotive sector. Their commitment to supporting education, especially motor skills development, is highly commendable and will go a long way towards building a better future for South Africa.
Group1 Nissan is proud to be affiliated with a brand that cares about the community and takes action when it’s needed most. For more Nissan SA news, motoring tips and vehicle launches, please read our blog and follow us on Facebook.
The post Motor Technology Skills Development With Nissan SA appeared first on Nissan Blog at Group1.
Nissan Astonishes 2022 SEMA Crowd With Fun New Concepts
Posted by Group1 Nissan on 21 Dec 2022
Nissan Z GT4
The SEMA Show is an annual trade-only show that invites automotive speciality equipment manufacturers to display alongside automotive manufacturers to debut new, innovative products, and connect with industry buyers from all over the world. This year, in October, the highly anticipated event took place at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The four-day show attracted 160 000+ industry professionals, with 2400+ exhibitors across 1.2 million square feet of exhibition space. Suffice it to say, it was a mammoth occasion, and Nissan certainly came to play – enticing show attendees with no less than amazing concept vehicles that were tailored to inspire and delight. This included:
1. Ariya Surfwagon
The Ariya Surfwagon concept features a vinyl wrap reminiscent of Californian-style ‘woodie’ wagons and the beach cruisers of the past. If you ever wanted to listen to the Beach Boys in the perfect vehicle, this would be it. Featuring a custom roof rack that holds a pair of 7-foot surfboards with a matching colour scheme, the Surfwagon also boasts 20” ‘smoothie’ wheels with polished centre caps roll on white-wall tires.
2. Electrified 1987 Nissan Sunny Pick-up
If you love all things retro, you’ll be in awe of the 1987 Nissan Sunny pickup that’s been converted with Hakosuka-style and an electric powertrain from a Nissan Leaf. It’s been fitted with eye-catching 17” Rotiform wheels and a BRE 46 racing livery and sets the scene for racing excellence with 236 pound-feet of torque (triple the output of the original combustion engine).
3. Nismo Off-Road Frontier V8
The Nissan Frontier is a mid-size pick-up truck that is widely beloved throughout America. In this interaction, it has a staunch 5.6-litre V8 engine, custom wide-track suspension with Bilstein shocks, and a wide body kit with carbon fibre front wings.
4. Frontier Street Truck Project
The Frontier was also reimagined as a 1990s truck with custom suspension, a wide body, a MagnaFlow cat-back exhaust, Alcantara upholstery and 20-inch alloys. This leaned into the looks and trends that were prevalent in ‘street truck’ culture in the heyday of the 90s.
5. Nissan Z GT4
An innovative new race car that is already poised to compete in GT racing around the world in 2023.
Keep an eye out for more info on the exciting things happening in Nissan’s global R&D department. In the meantime, get in touch with a Group1 Nissan representative to learn more about the amazing models we currently have available at our showrooms.
The post Nissan Astonishes 2022 SEMA Crowd With Fun New Concepts appeared first on Nissan Blog at Group1.
Team Africa Le Mans’s Nissan V8 Ginetta G55 At Killarney
Posted by Group1 Nissan on 19 Dec 2022
Nissan Ginetta G55
The thunder of two mighty Nissan VK45 V8 engines spiced up this year’s Killarney 9-Hour Endurance Race. Team Africa Le Mans fitted two of their four GinettaG55 cars with these hot Nissan engines.
The VK45 is a V8 naturally aspirated aluminium DOHC 4-valve engine. It is a development of the VQ V6, rather than the previous VH V8 engine. This engine also features a new variable intake manifold, newly designed heads and a larger drive-by-wire throttle chamber.
Although it has a 4.5-litre displacement, these two engines have been destroked to 4.3-litre to improve reliability.
While you will not find this beast of an engine in any Nissan sold in South Africa, Nissan’s engineering team transfers the knowledge and skills required to create such engines back into the development of normal car engines. So any Nissan you buy will have some of the racing DNA of this V8 in it.
The Ginetta G55 is a specialist sports car, built by Ginetta Cars in Leeds since 2011. It is built to FIA GT3 regulations, one of the most popular and diverse racing classes in the world. Although originally fitted with a Ford V6 engine, this popular racer has been fitted with many different engines for different races over the years.
The Drivers
Team Africa Le Mans car 505 was driven by the father and sons super team Pirro – Emanuele, Cris and Goffredo (Goofy).
Emanuele won Le Mans five times with Audi, drove for Benetton and Dallara F1 teams and was the test driver for McLaren in the F1 championship days of Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna. He is a two-time ALMS sports-car champion and has won at Goodwood and Macau. He is also an FIA steward.
His son Cris is a senior engineer at Alfa F1, while Goofy, also a graduate of the prestigious Cranfield engineering school, currently works in the Italian F3 Championship.
Car 50 was driven by Anthony Reid, saloon car star Hennie Groenewald and Murray Shepherd.
Reid has a Le Mans 3rd place under his belt and competed in the British GT3 series against the likes of Damon Hill. He was once offered to drive with Jordan F1. In the ‘90s and 2000s, he was one of the highest-paid saloon car racers in the world.
Groenewald has won the Wesbank V8 Supercars series three times and he has competed internationally in various formulae, including Formula 3. Shepherd, although still young, has a wealth of experience in various kinds of races and is seen as a star of the future.
Team Africa Le Mans
Team Africa Le Mans is a South Africa-based GT racing team run by volunteers from Africa. It uses top driving talent. The team’s aim is to carry the continent’s flag into international competition.
The team made its international debut in 2016 in the Paul Ricard 24-hour race, and it is the first team from Africa to be invited to the Road to Le Mans race. It will use an all-African pit crew from South Africa and Kenya.
The Team promotes the STOP! Poaching initiative, with a focus on the plight of the Pangolin.
You can keep up with local and international Nissan news by following us on social media.
Image sourced from WPMC
The post Team Africa Le Mans’s Nissan V8 Ginetta G55 At Killarney appeared first on Nissan Blog at Group1.
Egyptian Ceremony Celebrates Nissan’s African Footprint
Posted by Group1 Nissan on 28 Jul 2022
Ignition Awards In Egypt Celebrate Nissan’s African Success
The Ignition Awards acknowledge excellence among dealers and various role players in the Nissan network in Africa, but it has always been more of a South African affair than African. This has now changed, with the ceremony taking place in The Cascades Golf Resort on the Red Sea in Somabay, Egypt.
It was the first award by Nissan Africa held post-COVID, the first in Egypt and the first to include Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. This is a reflection of the increasing continental role played by the carmaker in Africa, with Nissan being the only original equipment manufacturer (OEM) with headquarters in South Africa and Egypt.
Nissan Africa was created in December 2020 to maximise the opportunities the continent offers for Nissan as manufacturer, its dealers and supporting networks.
Nissan Africa serves 54 countries through a system of regional managers for East, Southern and West Africa. It has country directors in South Africa and Egypt, specialist departments and back office staff.
Africa is the last automotive frontier in the world, with over a billion people, the youngest and most vital population in the world, and with the most development potential. This potential is starkly laid out if one compared India and Africa. Both have around the same population and the same gross domestic product, yet India sells three times more vehicles than Africa.
One factor that could unlock the African potential is the African Continental Free Trade Agreement that came into effect on 1 January this year. Its aim is to create a barrier-free common trade and economic environment and get rid of tariffs. One of the ways this Agreement will help the automotive sector is to stop the practice of dumping end-of-life used cars here.
Several models built in Africa have found great favour across the continent, with the Nissan Navara bakkies built in Rosslyn, South Africa proving ideal for the African conditions, and the recent launch of the Qashqai in Egypt. There is also a Navara assembly plant in Tema, Ghana.
Nissan in Egypt is the only OEM in that country and produces the Sentra and the Sunny, bestsellers in 2020 and 2021.
Nissan is busy with an ambitious rollout of both internal combustion engine and its proprietary e-Power range of electrified drives across the continent.
Our Dealerships
Group1 Nissan at the 2022 Nissan Ignition Awards
As in previous years, Group1 Nissan featured prominently in the Ignition Awards.
Group1 Nissan Kuils River was among the top 3 nominated for new vehicle sales department, Dealer of the Year and customer satisfaction for sales and service, all in the mega dealer category.
Group1 Nissan The Glen was in the top 3 Nissan Intelligent Choice awards in the large dealer category.
Sales executive Jacques Duckitt of Group1 Kuils River won third place for the most Nissan Fleet Sales.
The post Egyptian Ceremony Celebrates Nissan’s African Footprint appeared first on Nissan Blog at Group1.
Nissan’s NEXT Transformation Plan Is Ahead Of Schedule
Posted by Group1 Nissan on 05 Jul 2022
Nissan has released a progress report on its four-year Nissan NEXT transformation plan, which coincides with the release of the firm’s full-year results for the 12 months to March 31, 2022.
Launched in May 2020, Nissan’s NEXT transformation plan aims at optimising capacity and streamlining business processes while prioritising key markets and focusing on key models and technologies.
Nissan is ahead of schedule in key areas of its consolidation efforts, resulting in a leaner organisation that is true to its talents and focused on delivering long-term profitability.
Already, Nissan has optimised production, streamlined its product line-up, and refined its global management structure and that was all during the first two years. Imagine what can be achieved in the next two!
Meeting Industry Demands With The NEXT Transformation Plan
Nissan’s continued efforts have helped the automaker adapt to unprecedented changes in mobility solutions and international disruptions while lowering the breakeven point and yielding substantive cost savings.
Nissan has also made progress ahead of schedule in its prioritization and focus programmes, building the quality of its business foundations and positioning the company to advance long-term electric vehicles and the growing carbon-neutral goals.
Nissan will continue to focus on the seeds of future development and revitalize its foundations through ongoing cultural change initiatives. The company has stated that it has made progress in the following areas as part of its Nissan NEXT update:
Strengthening Agility and Sustainable Profitability
- Global production capacity has been reduced by 20%
- The product line-up is also down by 15% as Nissan is focusing more time, effort and resources on its more popular and future-ready models
- Nissan’s global management structure has changed from seven to four regions which helped to create a more agile business model
- Fixed costs have been optimised by 350 billion yen (approximately R42 billion) which is 17% ahead of the original 300bn yen target (R36 billion)
Enhancing Business Quality and Innovation
- Core products and technologies form the basis of sustainable, long-term growth across vital markets between the US, Japan, China and Europe
- Nissan’s ambitious product renewal programme has delivered 12 new models in 18 months with the Nissan ARIYA establishing a new era for Nissan’s innovation and electric vehicle legacy
- Net revenues per unit were increased by 18%, supporting operating profit margins of 2% for FY21
Setting A Foundation for Nissan’s Future Growth
- Continued implementation of cultural transformations initiatives between corporate purpose, diversity, equality and inclusion, strengthened corporate governance, alongside sustainability initiatives
- Established 2050 carbon neutrality goal and Ambition 2030 vision
- Outlined Alliance 2030 roadmap with common platform usage of 80% in 2026
- Announced Nissan EV36Zero in the UK to provide a 360-degree solution
- Developed Nissan Intelligent Factory initiative to build next-generation vehicles and deliver carbon-neutral production around the world by 2050
Ashwani Gupta, Nissan’s chief operating officer, said: “We have achieved momentum and delivery in the first half of our Nissan NEXT plan. The results are pleasing, especially achieved against a backdrop of severe market headwinds and intense competition. We must now build on this transformation to generate value and sustained profitability.”
NEXT Transformation Plan Results in Global Revenue Increase
Ashwani Gupta gave examples of the progress Nissan has made with its NEXT Transformation plan which includes a 19% increase in net revenue per unit in the core US market. Japan also saw a significant net revenue increase per unit of 38% on the new Nissan Note model. In Europe, the net revenue is up 38% per unit on the new Nissan Qashqai model.
Makoto Uchida, Nissan’s chief executive, welcomed the progress on the transformation plan, adding: “As we prioritize every effort to deliver long-term sustainable growth, we will move towards a progressive future as Nissan accelerates its electrification goals and technology innovations.”
It’s evident that Nissan is on the right path, and Uchida seems confident the company will achieve its full potential. “Targeting a 5% core operating profit margin while we pursue significant advancements in mobility and beyond.”
What’s In Store For Nissan’s NEXT Transformation Plan?
During the next two years of the Nissan NEXT Transformation Plan, the Japanese automaker will maintain its rationalization and prioritization efforts. They will also continue efforts to achieve future growth by doing the following:
- Increase the mix of electrification models to 40% globally by 2026
- Develop lower-cost, cobalt-free lithium-ion batteries for next-generation electric vehicles
- Establish a pioneering all-solid-state batteries pilot production line in Yokohama by 2024
- Expand its EV Hub concept from the UK to core markets in Japan, China, and America
- Build two all-new all-electric models at the Canton plant in Mississippi, US
- Expand its EV battery reusing capabilities through 4R Energy corporation with dedicated facilities in America, Europe and Japan
- Expand the company’s ProPILOT technology to more than 2.5 million Nissan and INFINITI vehicles by the end of the 2026 financial year
- Improve the latest driver-assistance technologies
Final Thoughts On Nissan’s NEXT Transformation Plan
Nissan is making significant headway on a worldwide restructuring strategy as it continues to move forward from the disgraced departure of former CEO Carlos Ghosn. Nissan is on track to meet the objectives set in its “Nissan Next” turnaround strategy a year ahead of schedule.
Uchida concluded: “Along with accelerated business performance, Nissan is continuing to evolve its corporate culture for a new era. We aim to deepen the support for our people and maximize the potential of everyone at Nissan to drive innovations that enrich the lives of our customers. Our people remain Nissan’s greatest strength and will be a driving force as we pursue our long-term ambitions to empower society.”
Stay updated on Nissan’s NEXT Transformation Plan, new models and other motoring news by subscribing to our blog.
The post Nissan’s NEXT Transformation Plan Is Ahead Of Schedule appeared first on Nissan Blog at Group1.
Pole To Pole Down The Americas In A Nissan Ariya Electric Vehicle
Posted by Group1 Nissan on 29 Jun 2022
Nissan Ariya EV will embark on a world-first expedition through the Americas
Fun fact: there are no penguins in the Arctic and there are no polar bears in Antarctica. Not yet, although if a bear could convince a chap called Chris Ramsey to give it a lift, this may change. You see, Ramsey is an extreme adventurer like Bear Grylls, except he drives and prefers drinking tea. Ramsey is planning the first drive from the magnetic North Pole to the magnetic South Pole via North, Central and South America. Why?
Why? Because it has never been done before. Because it involves driving the full range of extreme conditions – vast distances, freezing cold, snow and ice. Baking deserts and hot, damp jungles. Salt pans and some of the most rugged and dangerous mountains on earth. 27 000 kilometres of testing terrain – consider that the circumference of the earth is 40 075km. And Ramsey will do this in a Nissan Ariya electric vehicle. Why?
He is doing it in the Ariya to show the ‘yes but’ crowd that EVs are not little fragile rich persons’ runabouts that can take you to the mall and back before needing an overnight charge.
If anyone is qualified for this quest, it is Ramsey. He has undertaken various EV adventures over the last ten years. In 2017, for example, Ramsey and his wife Julie became the first team to complete the gruelling Mongol Rally in an all-electric vehicle. This gruelling rally is 13 000km long across 13 countries and over hectic terrain. They used their specially modified Nissan Leaf AT-EV (all-terrain electric vehicle), which they had to recharge 111 times at a cost of around R2000.
For the Pole to Pole adventure Ramsey is using a modified Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE. The Ariya is Nissan’s first all-electric SUV and e-4FORCE is Nissan’s most advanced all-wheel technology. It accurately manages power output and braking performance for smoothness and stability. This increases driver confidence by tracing the intended driving line over a variety of road surfaces, including wet and snowy roads, without having to change the driving style. The modifications include a more rugged exterior, upgraded wheels, tyres and suspension. Interestingly enough, Ramsey’s support vehicle will be a completely standard Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE.
This is a major commitment for both Ramsey and Nissan. Apart from the fun and wow factor of seeing someone attempting something so over-the-top, it also has a real-world goal of supporting Nissan Ambition 2030, the company’s long-term vision around electrification as a central focus. If Ramsey completes all or even most of this quest, it will firmly establish EVS as an exciting and very capable vehicle that can provide most of our mobility needs going forward.
Keep up with Nissan news, launches and other exciting events by subscribing to our blog.
The post Pole To Pole Down The Americas In A Nissan Ariya Electric Vehicle appeared first on Nissan Blog at Group1.
A New Take On The Metaverse – Nissan Sakura VR Launch
Posted by Group1 Nissan on 13 Jun 2022
Nissan launched their new EV range in the metaverse
According to one tech billionaire the virtual world, the metaverse, will be a place where your avatar can hang out with other people’s avatars and have virtual drinks while watching a virtual concert. So a big Meh, an exercise in futility dreamed up by someone who seemingly has no connection to the real world.
Just a moment though. Imagine if the virtual world/metaverse can be used to address real needs in a world where millions of people suddenly had to work remotely, interacting with people they have never met, with the only contact a faceless exchange via email or WhatsApp. This is a very real thing, and although it increases work or education opportunities significantly, it does contribute to feelings of dissociation, loneliness and anxiety.
Nissan is one of the leaders in using a virtual universe to bring remote workers into a more cohesive contact space. It started with virtual meetings and product development workshops and the like, similar to being at work but dressed in your jammies. Nissan soon realised a lot of people not only coped very well with a virtual reality world, but they preferred it to the old-school real world. A lot of these people were younger, more adventurous, and tech-savvy – in other words, a huge and prime slice of Nissan’s target market.
The Japanese tech giant started with a virtual reality (VR) version of its Nissan Crossing gallery in Tokyo’s buzzing Ginza district, using a platform created by US startup VR Chat. VR Chat was one of the pioneers of virtual, and later hybrid, events and exhibitions. This VR space kicked off with a world tour of the new Ariya EV. This showroom can host launches and other events.
Nissan recently launched the Sakura, an electric Kei-car – a Japanese market car segment limited in size and power and exempt from certain taxes and parking restrictions – popular with older people and the youth. With the latter market in mind, Nissan opted to have a VR launch as well as a physical launch.
The Sakura is a four-seater with a 20kW lithium-ion battery that can go 180km. It is the first in this class of mini to feature an advanced driver-assist system. This little car will cost around R290 000, about par with similar Kei cars.
The VR launch was a mix of the Matrix, Mario cart and J-pop and the traditional motoring media did not like it at all. “How can you launch, never mind sell, a VR car?”
Japan’s tech-savvy and novelty-seeking youth loved it and industry pundits predict similar VR/hybrid launches of other products – smartphones or razors or whatever. The VR launch of the Sakura was a stroke of genius, with Nissan being bold and tapping into the novelty nerve of its young market. What next? Subscribe to our blog and you will be among the first to know.
The post A New Take On The Metaverse – Nissan Sakura VR Launch appeared first on Nissan Blog at Group1.
How Does Nissan’s New Driver-Assistance Technology Work?
Posted by Group1 Nissan on 24 May 2022
Nissan is developing new driver-assist technology – “ground truth perception”
Nissan has long been a leader in driver-assistance technology which will stand them in good stead since it will play a vital role in the world of self-driving vehicles, which is not that far away. With a big focus on vehicle safety, Nissan is developing a new driver-assistance technology that uses highly accurate, real-time data of the vehicle’s surrounding environment which will help greatly improve collision avoidance.
Testing The New Driver-Assistance Technology
One of the biggest concerns over autonomous vehicles is collision avoidance from simple evading manoeuvres to more complex scenarios. So, with an eye on the future and improving overall road safety, Nissan showcased its new driver-assistance technology using a test vehicle at its facility in Japan.
Here, it successfully performed automatic collision-avoidance manoeuvres thanks to the automaker’s “ground truth perception” technology. It combines information from next-generation high-performance LIDAR, radar and cameras to identify and react to what lies ahead in real-time. This includes the following:
- Detect the shape and distance of objects
- Calculate the structure of the area surrounding the vehicle with an exceptionally high level of accuracy
- Instantly analyse the current situation and take the appropriate action to avoid a potential collision
- This new driver-assistance technology can detect slowed traffic and road obstacles and execute lane changes accordingly
- It can also provide added support to drivers in areas where detailed map information is unavailable
According to Takao Asami, senior vice president, leading global research and development: “Nissan has been the first to market a number of advanced driver assistance technologies. When we look at the future of autonomous driving, we believe that it is of utmost importance for owners to feel highly confident in the safety of their vehicles. We are confident that our in-development ground truth perception technology will make a significant contribution to owner confidence, reduced traffic accidents and autonomous driving in the future.”
Developing The Next-Gen LIDAR For Autonomous Driving
In preparation for the inevitable future of autonomous vehicles, Nissan has partnered with several reputable companies to research and develop this collision avoidance driver-assistance technology. Using leading technologies, the next-generation LIDAR will be integrated into Nissan’s system with Luminar, a global automotive technology company.
When it comes to advanced collision avoidance control, it is crucial to develop highly accurate verification technology within a digital environment. As with the collaboration with Luminar, Nissan is also partnering with Applied Intuition, a software engineering company with state-of-the-art simulation technology. All stakeholders working closely together and sharing knowledge puts Nissan in the driving seat in terms of developing next-gen driver-assistance technology.
The Future Of Autonomous Vehicles And Driver-Assistance Technology
Nissan has a long-term vision called Nissan Ambition 2030, in which it plans to use next-generation LIDAR technology to help drivers avoid collisions. They believe that driver-assistance technology to help avoid highly complex accidents will be essential in autonomous vehicles of the future.
Safety is important for carmakers and buyers across the world with governments also mandating the addition of certain features. This includes lane departure warning (LDW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB) which could pave the way for new driver-assistance technologies in self-driving cars.
Nissan wants its ground truth perception technology operational by the mid-2020s. While it will initially only be available on a select few new vehicles, it will eventually be on nearly every new vehicle by the end of 2030.
It appears Nissan has clearly outlined its plan and timelines to develop and launch this new driver-assistance technology. To keep up to date on this story and other articles covering new vehicles and driving tips, subscribe to our blog.
The post How Does Nissan’s New Driver-Assistance Technology Work? appeared first on Nissan Blog at Group1.
Japanese Local Government Teams Up With Nissan In Green Drive
Posted by Group1 Nissan on 13 May 2022
Nissan works with local government to help Japanese cities
Efforts to reduce carbon emissions are fragile flowers in a desert wasteland, isolated spots of brightness growing unconnected in a harsh landscape. An electric vehicle here, some solar there, five windmills on a lonely hill. For the rest, it’s burn baby, burn, seemingly careless masses burning fossil fuels as if it did not matter.
But the problem is not ignorance or carelessness, it is a lack of choice. Take South Africa: even if you do care about the environment, you are stuck with Eskom and its coal burners. That is because energy use is a mass activity and changing how we do this requires the will of the community backed by opportunity, technology and knowledge.
As an example of how this could work, let’s turn to Japan and the Decarbonisation Support Partnership for Local Governments. The aim is to decarbonise, the target audience is 492 local governments that represent 110 million people at the most basic level, and the support is provided by tech giants Nissan and two other Japanese companies called Sumitomo Corporation and Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Services. The target is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The big obstacle in Japan, as in South Africa, is the lack of knowledge about how to introduce and use renewable energy, and the personnel to implement it. The three participating companies will supply the knowledge, with a focus on mobility and energy.
Mobility – Local transportation will be made more efficient by introducing EVs and creating car-sharing infrastructure for use by residents, local businesses and local government facilities.
Energy – The partners will help set up power generation by renewable means.
Resilience – Under the umbrella of the Department of the Environment, the trading of renewable power will be set up. This will strengthen the system – in our case, like sunny Koekenaap selling excess electricity to Cape Town on a rainy day, while PE can probably supply half of South Africa with wind power pretty much all the time.
Part of Nissan’s contribution comes from its Blue Switch project, where power can be pulled from parked EVs during peak times, and an initiative where old EV batteries are restored and used in power banks for peak times.
Sumitomo Auto specialises in car leasing and fleet management, which means it can switch a massive number of cars from ICE to EV and efficiently manage this fleet.
Given what the climate is doing right now, 2050 seems a bit far into the future and it is. However, this Partnership is among the first to go green at a very large community level and will surely create a model for other communities and countries around the world.
Nissan is not only a major car company but a global leader that uses technology for positive outcomes. You can keep up with Nissan news by subscribing to our blog.
The post Japanese Local Government Teams Up With Nissan In Green Drive appeared first on Nissan Blog at Group1.
Nissan Ariya EV Receives iF Design Award In Germany
Posted by Group1 Nissan on 09 May 2022
Nissan at the International Forum Design Awards
The new stunning and future-ready Nissan Ariya electric crossover has won the iF Design Award in Germany. It shares the prestigious accolade with the Nissan Pavilion after a jury of experts comprehensively evaluated both using five specific criteria: idea, form, function, differentiation and impact.
What Is The iF Design Award?
The iF International Forum Design GmbH in Hannover, Germany, launched the iF design award in 1954 and has since become one of the world’s most prestigious design honours. In this year’s competition, an independent jury with 132 design experts evaluated 10,776 products and projects from 57 different countries.
The iF Design Award aims to recognise and publicise exceptional designs. This year’s awards were based on nine categories:
- product design
- communication
- packaging
- service design
- concepts
- architecture
- interior design
- user experience (UX)
- user interface (UI)
A jury of 50 manufacturers and designers of various industrial products selected the winners based on aesthetics, functionality, quality, ergonomics, durability, and innovation. The product design category saw around 7,900 entries from roughly 60 countries.
All Eyes On The Nissan Ariya EV
The Nissan Ariya electric crossover was recognised for its exceptional innovation as an EV and high-quality design which highlights Nissan’s unique concept of “Timeless Japanese Futurism”.
The stylish Nissan Ariya combines Nissan’s expertise in electric vehicles with all the latest connected technologies. This marks the next chapter in the Nissan EV story which looks set on making history. In addition to the stunning exterior, the Nissan Ariya also offers powerful acceleration and a smooth, quiet ride. The interior is synonymous with a living room by providing a warm welcome and comfortable environment for the driver and passengers.
The innovative Nissan Ariya crossover SUV is the result of Nissan’s incredible expertise in electric vehicles. While packed with some of the most advanced technologies, it employs simple but modern styling that sets this EV apart from the rest.
The Nissan Pavilion And The Future Of Mobility
The Nissan Pavilion first opened in 2020 for a limited time where visitors could immerse themselves in the future of mobility. The building’s shape and the new Nissan logo represent Nissan’s idea that if you have a strong belief, it might even penetrate the sun. During the digital world premiere, the Nissan Ariya also adorned the new logo which was unveiled at the Nissan Pavilion.
Nissan has long been a leader in sustainable mobility solutions and wants to build a cleaner society. They want to become carbon neutral through the entire vehicle lifecycle and general operations by 2050 which comes from decades of research and development into programmes to help reduce emissions. Providing electric vehicle technologies that benefit the environment and society, including the Nissan Ariya, is but one glorious example.
To keep up with the latest news from the motoring world – read our blog and join the conversation on Facebook.
The post Nissan Ariya EV Receives iF Design Award In Germany appeared first on Nissan Blog at Group1.