Nissan introduces anti drunk-driving technology

Nissan introduces a new systems capable of detecting the presence of alcohol in the perspiration of the driver's palm as he or she attempts to start driving, monitor the driver's state of consciousness through the blinking of the eye, monitoring the operational behavior of the vehicle etc.

This concept car was developed as an exploratory platform to showcase breakthrough technologies that could potentially be applied in future production cars, part of an ongoing program from Nissan contributing towards the prevention of drunk driving.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has revealed a new concept car featuring multiple preventative features designed to help reduce drunk driving. Presently integrated on-board a production model Fuga sedan, the various technologies are designed to detect the driver's state of sobriety and to activate a range of preventive measures including immobilization of the vehicle.

Alcohol Odor Sensors

1. A hi-sensitivity alcohol odor sensor is built into the transmission shift knob, which is able to detect the presence of alcohol in the perspiration of the driver's palm as he or she attempts to start driving. When the alcohol-level detected is above the pre-determined threshold, the system automatically locks the transmission, immobilizing the car. A "drunk driving" voice alert is also issued via the car navigation system.

2. Additional alcohol odor sensors are also incorporated into the driver's and passenger seats to detect the presence of alcohol in the air inside the vehicle cabin. When alcohol is detected, the system issues both a voice alert and a message alert on the navigation system monitor.

Facial Recognition System

A camera is mounted on the instrument cluster facing the driver to monitor the driver's face. The system is calibrated to monitor the driver's state of consciousness through the blinking of the eyes. When the system detects signs of drowsiness, a voice and message alert is triggered via the navigation system. Additionally, a seat-belt mechanism is activated which tightens around the driver to gain his or her immediate attention.

Driving Behavior

By constantly monitoring the operational behavior of the vehicle (e.g. sensing if the vehicle is veering out of its driving lane), the system can identify signs of inattentiveness or distraction in the driver. When the system detects such behavior, voice and message alerts are issued via the navigation system. The seat-belt alert mechanism is also activated, tightening around the driver to gain immediate attention.

This concept car was developed as an exploratory platform to showcase breakthrough technologies that could potentially be applied in future production cars, part of an ongoing program from Nissan contributing towards the prevention of drunk driving.

Nissan has already launched and is developing several initiatives to help prevent drunk driving. In June, the company introduced the "drunk driving" message alert on its navigation system. In July, Nissan also began testing of a new on-board breathalyzer system in cooperation with several local government authorities, where an interlock mechanism will immobilize the vehicle if the driver's breath indicates the presence of alcohol above a specified level.

Nissan is taking holistic approach towards safety that extends beyond the technology built into its vehicles. To achieve a "safe driving environment", Nissan has embarked on the Intelligent Transport System Project (ITS) in Kanagawa Prefecture - aimed at helping to reduce road accidents via the analysis of traffic data collected from on-the-road vehicles and traffic beacons. In Japan, the company's safety vision is to halve the number of traffic fatalities or serious injuries involving Nissan vehicles by 2015 compared with the level in 1995.

Nissan Joint Venture With India Truckmaker

Oct.29, Nissan Motor Corp.announced a $500M joint venture with Indian truckmakerAshok Leyland to produce light trucks and engines in India for both domestic and export markets.

Nissan's CEO, Carlos Ghosn, on the visiting to India, is going to discuss a possible partnership between Renault and motorcycle maker Bajaj to produce a $3,000 car that would rival Tata Motor's planned "one-lakh" ($2,500) car in the race to capture share in what is the world's fastest-growing passenger car market.

Automakersare keen to tap the potential of India's growing auto market. The country will move from being the 12th largest producer of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles to the fourth-largest by 2016, according to automotive research group CSM Worldwide.

India is the world's fastest-growing automotive marketin those categories, with an annual growth rate of 14 per cent compared with 9 per cent in China.

Nissan's Monday agreement with Ashok Leyland consists of three joint ventures. One company will manufacture light commercial vehicles (LCVs) for both partners by 2010 and is expected to eventually roll out 100,000 vehicles a year.

The second will build and manufacture engines and components for LCVs and export.

The third, a technology development company, will make other truck products and components.

The Indian auto industry last year produced 11m cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles and other motor vehicles. An ambitious government and private-sector "Automotive Mission Plan ", outlined last year, set a production target of 3.2m passenger cars by 2016, up from 1.3m in the 12 months through March.

Nissan Install Solar Panels on Spanish Plants to Save CO2

In an effort to both save some euros off the electricity bill and some CO2 from hitting the environment, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd, will install 606 solar panels at its Barcelona (Spain) vehicle plant by the end of this summer. which will cover a surface of 3,000 square-metres and generate 308,000 kWh of electricity per year, which helps them reduce CO2 emissions by 110 tons.

Nissan is also installed a similar layout on its other plant in Spain, in Ávila this summer, 732 solar panels resulting in savings of 267 tons of CO2 emissions every year. But not only Spain is getting renewable energy to power the plants, Nissan is also using renewable energy at its Sunderland vehicle plant in the UK, where it has erected six wind turbines good for 5 percent of the plant's electricity which cuts CO2 emissions by 3,300 tons a year.

These interventions are being held under Nissan's Green Program 2010, which expectations are to lower CO2 emissions 7 percent from 2005 levels.

Nissan Motor Announced More Infiniti Stores To Open in China

News from Beijing,Oct.19, 2007, Japanese automakerNissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced to planning further expand in Chinaon the strength of its luxury brand Infiniti.

Recently, Nissan Motor Corp.appointed its fourth and fifth Infiniti dealers in the northeastern and southwestern Chinese cities of Dalian and Chengdu in succession, respectively.

"Three to four Infiniti stores are to start for business and we are expected to totally have more than 15 stores in China by the end of 2008," said a top executive of the Japanese automaker, "From July to September this year, the dealers in Beijing and Shanghai delivered over 50 Infinite cars a month and the dealer in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen has received orders for more than 100 cars."

Nissan Motor Corp.has made an outstanding sale of Infinite cars, beating the previously estimation, since it launched the new model here in July, added the top executive. In the near future, Nissan Motorwill devote itself to fast growing in the Chinese market.