NISSAN LEAF, JUKE, TO APPEAR AT JIMS 2011

The groundbreaking Nissan LEAF, Nissan’s mass market zero emissions electric vehicle which has already been rolled out in Europe, Japan and North America, will be showcased at the 2011 Johannesburg International Motor Show to be held at the Nasrec MTN Expo Centre between 06 and 16 October 2011. The first in a series of EV vehicles to be produced by the Japanese auto manufacturer, the LEAF has already won accolades as 2011 World Car of the Year and European Car of the Year.

Popularly known as the Joburg Motor Show, the event will also provide a platform to showcase Nissan’s wide range of vehicles, which feature advancements made in low emissions technology.  Said Mike Whitfield, Nissan SA’s managing director: “We are dedicated to lowering our carbon footprint to ensure a sustainable future. This is reflected in on-going technological development to reduce the impact of our vehicles on the environment.”

Leveraging on the biennial show that  attracts motor industry stakeholders, aficionados and the general public from South Africa and beyond, Nissan SA aims to appeal to a broad cross section through its ‘Innovation and excitement for everyone’ theme.

On display will be a selection of Nissan’s premier vehicles, including the sporty GT-R and 370Z, as well as its newly bolstered passenger vehicle line-up comprising the recently introduced new Nissan Micra and the much-anticipated Nissan Juke, which will enter the South African market at the end of the year. Focus will also be on Nissan’s extensive LCV and SUV range including the Murano, Navara, X-Gear and Qashqai. A special track is being built for test drives to demonstrate the capability of these high-performance 4X4 vehicles.

Bringing innovation and excitement to its products and services as well as cleaner more affordable cars for everyone around the world, are key elements of Nissan’s recently-announced six-year midterm business plan to accelerate the company’s growth across new markets and segments.  Whitfield will outline Nissan Power 88 at one of the show’s business sessions, while Pierre Loing, head of Nissan Europe’s zero emissions business unit and vice president of product strategy and planning, is a guest speaker at event highlight Car Conference 2011 (12 October), themed ‘Adapting for success in a changing automotive market’.

An estimated 275 000 visitors - many from Africa, Europe and the Far East - are expected to attend the Joburg Motor Show, which is open to the public from 08 to 16 October 2011.

STORY BY NISSAN