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✇ Nissan Channel 23 Global

The 2017 Nissan GT-R: polished to perfection

By Nissan Global Media Center — June 5th 2017 at 07:50

Tochigi, Japan – Nissan’s Tochigi Plant is the largest of the company’s three main assembly plants in Japan, in terms of land area. It is about 100 km (62 miles) north of Tokyo. Established in 1968, the plant today largely turns out luxury vehicles and sports cars. A particular point of pride is the plant’s unique manufacturing process for the Nissan GT-R.

Nissan GT-R Polishing Section in Tochigi Plant

The GT-R, a legendary supercar, is known for its mastery at every touchpoint. The craftsmanship that goes into making the model is carried out with the utmost precision, with each part built and finished meticulously. At the Tochigi Plant, a master craftsman, called takumi, brings the GT-R’s polishing to the ultimate level, using sensitive hands and sharp eyes to inspect, check and then polish each coat to perfection. This story explains the discipline behind the polishing process for the model year 2017 GT-R*.

* The takumi hand-polishing process is limited to select colors of the 2017 Nissan GT-R, such as “Ultimate Metal Silver,” in the Japan region.

✇ Nissan Channel 23 Global

Driverless Towing System at Nissan Oppama Plant

By Nissan Global Media Center — December 14th 2016 at 01:18

December 13 – Yokohama – Nissan Motor recently announced the introduction of Intelligent Vehicle Towing (IVT), a fully automated vehicle towing system, at its Oppama Plant.

Nissan has worked on making the relationship between people, cars and society more exciting under its Intelligent Mobility vision, a framework for how cars will be driven, powered, and integrated into society.

This new project, which utilizes mapping and communication technologies to link an intelligent and all-electric car to infrastructure, is a step towards the realization of Nissan Intelligent Integration.

The IVT system uses a modified Nissan LEAF to autonomously tow trollies carrying finished vehicles between designated loading and unloading points at the plant.

Unlike conventional automatic guided vehicle systems for transporting parts, which often require the installation of rails or extensive use of magnetic tape, this system does not need any special infrastructure to operate.

The towing car is equipped with an array of cameras and laser scanners that detect lane markings, curbs and potential obstacles or hazards around the vehicle. By cross-referencing this information with map data, the towing car calculates its own location, negotiating the route to its destination unaided.

The towing car travels within the speed limits of the factory, and automatically stops if it detects an obstacle or hazard ahead, before setting off again when it has determined that the road ahead is clear.

The towing route can easily be altered to accommodate changes in production processes or vehicle transport routes. All driverless towing cars are connected to a central traffic control system, which can monitor the location, driving speed, remaining battery and operational status of each vehicle.

When two driverless towing cars meet at an intersection, the control system’s algorithm determines which car should be given right-of-way, and in case of emergency, the system can stop the vehicles remotely.

 

✇ Nissan Channel 23 Global

Nissan Half-Year Earnings

By Nissan Global Media Center — November 8th 2016 at 00:42

Yokohama – Nov. 7 – Nissan Motor announced financial results for the six-month period to September 30, 2016 that showed an operating profit of 339.7 billion yen, a 6.4 percent margin on net revenues of 5.32 trillion yen.

On a constant currency basis, operating profit rose 31.5 percent to 519.5 billion yen, equivalent to an 8.5 percent profit margin. This reflects demand for core products, particularly in North America and benefits of continued cost-discipline, on-going product introductions and Alliance strategy.

“These solid results were achieved despite recent currency headwinds and continued challenges in Japan and emerging-markets,” said Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

In the first half of the fiscal year, Nissan’s total unit sales were 2.61 million units.

In the U.S., Nissan’s sales rose by 3.7 percent to 783,000 units, equivalent to a market share of 8.7 percent, amid strong demand for the Altima, the Rogue and the Maxima.

Nissan unit sales in China, which reports figures on a calendar year basis, rose 3.8 percent to 610,000 units, equivalent to market share of 5.0 percent. In Europe, excluding Russia, Nissan’s sales rose by 4.4 percent to 319,000, which resulted in a market share of 3.6 percent. The Qashqai SUV and X-Trail helped drive demand in the region.

Nissan’s performance in these key markets helped compensate for a decline in the Japanese market where Nissan was impacted by the suspension of Dayz/Dayz Roox minicar sales.

Total unit sales in the quarter for Japan were 211,000 units, representing a market share of 9.2 percent. In other markets including Asia and Oceania, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, Nissan’s sales decreased 4.9 percent to 382,000 units.

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