Nissan LEAF Helps New York Celebrate Earth Day for Second Straight Year

NEW YORK, April 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the award-winning Nissan LEAF will celebrate Earth Day 2012 in New York City, marking the automaker's second year as a sponsor. As part of the day's activities, the LEAF will take part in a CO2 E Drive through Manhattan along a route that finishes up in Times Square. Earth Day 2012 is a three-day event designed to help raise environmental awareness and features various family-friendly events from April 19-21.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080506/NISSANWORDMARKLOGO)

The LEAF, one of many environmentally-friendly vehicles participating in the CO2 E Drive, will be equipped with GPS technology to track movement. Each participating vehicle will act as virtual paintbrushes with New York City serving as its canvas. GPS will track the vehicles as they maneuver through a predesigned route, ultimately forming an image of the letter "E" overlaid on a satellite image of the city. Satellite cameras orbiting over Earth will capture the image and display it in the form of colored lights. Vehicle tracking and images of the CO2 E Drive can be viewed at http://co2greendrive.gilvader.dk/newyork.html.

"Nissan's commitment to zero emissions goes beyond the LEAF and we are always looking for ways to share our passion for eco-friendly solutions with the world," said Jon Brancheau, vice president, Nissan marketing. "Participating in Earth Day 2012 is an extension of Nissan's comprehensive range of initiatives that aim to help reduce environmental impact in real world terms and support the development of a sustainable mobile society."

Once in Times Square, the LEAF will take the stage during a special car runway show highlighting green vehicle attributes, such as zero tailpipe emissions, parts made from recyclable materials, and its range of 100 miles.

Following the runway show, a designated area in Times Square will be available for runway show vehicles, as well as innovators of environmentally responsible technologies, to exhibit for the duration of the event.

In March 2012, Nissan expanded the availability of the LEAF to nationwide ordering, making the LEAF the world's first and only all-electric, zero-emission vehicle for the mass market, and the first electric car available for anyone to purchase, anywhere in the United States.

Additional Earth Day New York 2012 details can be found at www.earthdayny.org.

About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, and 2012 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com.

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 award.

For more information on Nissan North America's products, services and commitment to Sustainable Mobility, visit http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.

SOURCE Nissan Americas