12.15.2011
, BRUSSELS, Belgium
NISSAN LEAF NOW PART OF EU COMMITTEE OF REGIONS FLEET
The EU Committee of the Regions has just received the keys of a 100% electric Nissan LEAF which will be used by the institution during VIP visits in Brussels and for general logistical purposes.
The EU institution that represents the interests of Europe’s regions in Brussels is making a conscious effort to reduce its carbon footprint and part of this strategy has been to add environmentally-friendly passenger cars to its fleet. The long-term two year lease of a Nissan LEAF is a sign that the world’s first mass-market electric vehicle is a leader among clean cars.
EU President of the Committee of the Regions, Mercedes Bresso, said: “The Committee of the Regions is committed to reducing emissions and improving air quality in our cities and regions around Europe. That process begins at home with the reduction of emissions from the fleet of cars we use. The addition of this all-electric vehicle to our fleet has another advantage which is to inform citizens of the clean mobility solutions that exist today.”
This comes soon after the first orders for the Nissan LEAF were taken in Belgium and is a further boost to the 2011 European Car of the Year and World Car of the Year’s environmental credentials. Nissan Europe’s Head of the Zero Emission Business Unit, Pierre Loing, said: “This is further endorsement that the fully electric Nissan LEAF is a real solution to reducing emissions and we are happy to provide the Committee of the Regions with one of our zero emission cars.”
Nissan in Europe
Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 12,500 staff across locally-based design, research development, manufacturing, logistics and sales marketing operations. Last year Nissan plants in the UK, Spain and Russia produced more than 528,000 vehicles including mini-MPVs, award-winning crossovers, SUVs and commercial vehicles. Nissan now offers 24 diverse and innovative products for sale in Europe today, and is positioned to become the number one Japanese brand in Europe.
About Nissan
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan’s second largest Japanese automotive company by volume, is headquartered in Yokahama, Japan and is an integral pillar of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 150,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4 million vehicles in 2010. With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands.
About Nissan LEAF
Winner of both the European and World Car of the Year awards in 2011, deliveries of Nissan LEAF are well underway in the UK, the Netherlands, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal. Order books have been opened in Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Italy with deliveries expected to start in those countries shortly. As of today, about 20.000 Nissan LEAF have been sold globally.
The family hatchback, which has been awarded a 5 Star safety rating by Euro NCAP, is powered by an in-house developed compact electric motor and inverter in the front of the car which drives the front wheels. The AC motor develops 80 kW of power and 280 Nm of torque, enough for a maximum speed of 145 km/h. It comes fully equipped with features such as air conditioning, satellite navigation, a parking camera, a quick charge socket and innovative smart-phone connectivity.
About EU Committee of the Regions
The Committee of the Regions (CoR) is the political assembly that provides the regional and local levels with a voice in EU policy development and EU legislation. The Treaties oblige the Commission, Parliament and Council to consult the Committee of the Regions whenever new proposals are made in areas that affect the regional or local level. The CoR has 344 members from the 27 EU countries, and its work is organised in 6 different commissions. They examine proposals, debate and discuss in order to write official opinions on key issues.
Contact:
Francois Crisias
Zero Emissions/EV Communications
fcrisias@nissan-europe.com
+ 33 1 72 67 67 61