Nissan Canada delivers first 100% electric Nissan LEAF to Canadian consumer

-  Ottawa Resident Receives Keys to 2011 Nissan LEAF from President of Nissan Canada  -

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MISSISSAUGA, ON, Sept. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Today Nissan Canada made history when it delivered the first all-electric Nissan LEAF to a Canadian consumer at an event in Ottawa. Ricardo Borba, an Ottawa resident and the first person in Canada to place a Nissan LEAF order, received the keys to his black Nissan LEAF SL from Allen Childs, President of Nissan Canada. Hunt Club Nissan in Ottawa hosted the event and is also hosting the Ottawa stop of Nissan's cross-Canada Drive Electric Tour.

"This is a significant milestone in the movement that brings sustainable mobility within our grasp and at Nissan we're excited to be leading the way by bringing the world's first all-electric car to the mass market, which was also recognized as the 2011 World Car of the Year," said Allen Childs, President of Nissan Canada, Inc. "Today we made history by handing over the keys to Mr. Borba, the first Canadian consumer to purchase a Nissan LEAF. This represents the freedom to choose a car that has no tailpipe, produces no emissions and will never have to visit a gas station."

Borba, a 44-year old electric engineer and software developer with IBM currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario with his wife and son. His new Nissan LEAF will be the family's primary car providing ample range for their day-to-day commutes.

"My family and I were starting to look for a new car last year when the Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred and prompted us to think about alternatives to gas-powered vehicles," said Borba. "We considered several options and the Nissan LEAF was the one that best fits our needs. It's all-electric and looks and drives just like a regular car with five seats, ample cargo space and loaded with high-tech features. It's smooth, quiet and has incredible acceleration. In other words, it's fun to drive!"

Delivery of Model Year 11 Nissan LEAFs will continue in the coming weeks across Canada. In late October, Nissan Canada will open its online reservation process for its allocation of Model Year 12 Nissan LEAFs. Reservations are eligible to those registered on the Nissan LEAF microsite (www.nissan.ca/LEAF) and living within the vicinity of the 27 EV-certified dealers across Canada. By the end of MY12 Nissan anticipates 600 Nissan LEAFs on Canadian roads.

Coinciding with the event is the Ottawa stop of Nissan's Drive Electric Tour (DET), a one-of-a-kind consumer driving experience. Hosted at the 27 EV-Certified dealers across Canada, the DET provides prospective Nissan LEAF owners and those curious about all-electric mobility with the opportunity to learn about the car, its technology and features, and take it for a test drive. More information about the DET and reservations for test drives are available at www.nissan.ca/driveelectrictour.

"We're thrilled to host the event today representing the arrival of the Nissan LEAF to the Canadian market," said Jean Malouin, President of Hunt Club Nissan. "We've had a lot of consumers come into the dealership asking questions about the Nissan LEAF, really curious about an all-electric car and how it would fit into their lifestyle. It's very exciting to be at the forefront of the sustainable mobility movement."

About the Nissan LEAF

One of the industry's most-discussed vehicles for good reason, Nissan LEAF™ is the world's first mass-marketed all-electric car made for the real-world driving needs of consumers and was recently named the 2011 World Car of the Year.

Nissan LEAF is a medium-size hatchback with ample cargo space and seating for five adults comfortably. With a range of 160 kilometres (EPA LA4 cycle) on one full charge, Nissan LEAF provides 90% of Canadians with the range needed for daily commutes. With a 240 volt home charging dock full charge is achieved in seven hours, and with a Level 3 Quick Charger, 80% charge can be achieved in just 26 minutes.

Powered by a lithium-ion battery, Nissan LEAF generates 107 horsepower, 207 lb-ft of torque providing a highly responsive, fun-to-drive experience. Because there's no traditional engine, Nissan LEAF is ultra-quiet and for safety reasons a sound had to be added so pedestrians could hear the car coming. In April, Nissan LEAF was awarded a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The instrument panel provides the driver with regular updates on range and driving efficiency, and using a telematics system called CARWINGS, the driver can communicate with the car via a smart phone with the ability to turn on the air conditioning or heat remotely, and manage and monitor charging.

More information, high-res images and b-roll are available at www.media.nissan.ca or upon request.

About Nissan Canada Inc.

Nissan Canada Inc. (NCI) is the Canadian sales, marketing and distribution subsidiary of Nissan Motor Limited and Nissan North America, Inc. With offices in Vancouver (BC), Mississauga (ON), and Kirkland (QC), NCI directly employs 250 full-time staff. There are 171 independent Nissan dealerships and 29 Infiniti retailers across Canada. A pioneer in zero emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades including the prestigious 2011 European Car of the Year and World Car of the Year awards.

More information about Nissan in Canada and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.nissan.ca and www.infiniti.ca.

About Nissan

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second largest Japanese automotive company by volume, is headquartered in Yokohama, 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-emissions vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades including the prestigious 2011 European Car of the Year and World Car of the Year awards.

SOURCE Nissan Canada Inc.