Blog of RENAULT NISSAN Alliance

With more than 50,000 examples on the globe's roads and two years of real-world zero-emissions experience behind it, the next chapter in the Nissan LEAF story is about to begin.

Datsun, a Nissan Motor Co. brand designing vehicles for high-growth markets, today announced that it is set to return to South Africa. The first model to be introduced in South Africa will be a new passenger vehicle that will be launched by the end of 2014.

Sydney has become the latest major city to offer its employees a fleet of zero-emission Nissan LEAFs. The recent delivery of ten LEAFs, the single largest order in Australia, reaffirms the New South Wales city's commitment to green initiatives – and serves as an example to its 4.6 million inhabitants.

We’ve already got cars that park themselves… but this is something different. At the touch of a button this Nissan LEAF can do the school run or even take you to work. By itself…

But although it sounds like something from a science fiction movie, the aptly named RobotCar is a deadly serious research project being undertaken by the University of Oxford in the UK.

Since the Renault-Nissan Alliance began in 1999, emerging markets have become a pillar of growth for the auto industry. In 1999, Brazil, Russia, India and China(the “BRICs”) represented only 8% of the total industry volume. In 2012, these four countries represented 36% of global vehicles sales. China, which registered 600,000 car sales in 1999, became the world’s biggest car market last year with about 18 million units. Renault-Nissan sold 8.1 million vehicles in 2012, with about 30% generated from the four BRICs. The Alliance accelerates this emerging market expansion enabling each partner to gain brand awareness with millions of customers aspiring to own their first car. But each market presents unique challenges and for the Alliance, the approach differs from country to country.

As well as promoting the benefits of zero-emission mobility to its public, the French authorities are practising what they preach: they are buying more than 17,000 electric vehicles from Renault for use by the government and public authorities.

- Government to invest £37m in EV charging network
- New scheme drops installed home charger cost by 75 per cent
- Government scheme will also boost availability of public chargers
- Scheme announced as Nissan prepares to begin LEAF production at Sunderland

Electric mobility has taken another huge leap forward thanks to significant investment in the UK’s charging network that will make it easier than ever to own and run an electric car.

Entrepreneur and environmentalist Rob Wilder uses solar energy from his home to power his zero-emission Nissan LEAF and explains how other Renault and Nissan electric vehicle owners can do the same thing.

For Nissan LEAF owners in the Netherlands, charging is about to get faster and easier. Drivers will soon benefit from a new network of 38 electric vehicle quick-charge stations across the country thanks to a partnership between Nissan and The New Motion, a Dutch company that specializes in mobility solutions powered by renewable energy.

Drivers of the future are getting a taste of the car of the future. Driving instructor Paul Tomalin has taken delivery of a pure electric Nissan LEAF, becoming the first in the UK to use an EV to teach learners how to drive.