Nissan North America, Inc., (NNA) and ABB, the world’s leading power and technology group, along with 4R Energy and Sumitomo Corporation of America, have formed a partnership to evaluate the reuse of lithium-ion battery packs that power the Nissan LEAF, the world’s first and only all-electric car designed for the mass market, said the company.

The Micra Diesel is powered by 1.5-litre Common Rail Direct Injection K9K Diesel Engine, which is mounted for the very first time in India on Nissan’s versatile ‘V’ platform, says the company. The 8-valves, 4-cylinder diesel-powered Micra generates power rated at 47Kw (64PS) @ 4000 rpm, while torque output is 160Nm @ 2000 rpm.

Nissan Motor announced the launch of the all-new 100% electric, zero-emission Nissan LEAF. Nissan LEAF will go on sale on December 20 in Japan followed by the United States, also December, and in select European markets in early 2011. Release in other global markets is set for 2012.

Mr. Kiminobu Tokuyama, MD & CEO, Nissan Motor India said, “The success of petrol variant of Micra in the domestic market has given us huge confidence to introduce Diesel variant within six months from the launch of petrol version.

Nissan Motor launches the sketch of its “New Global Sedan”.It is the second product after the Nissan Micra to be built on Nissan’s versatile ‘V’ platform. The “New Global Sedan” will have its premiere at the 8th China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition in December 2010. To be launched first in China, the model will be launched in India in the second half of 2011 and will be manufactured at the company’s plant at Oragadam, near Chennai.

LeasePlan and Japan’s auto firm Nissan signed an agreement to cooperate in an European-wide project to launch the 100% electric Nissan LEAF in 2011. LeasePlan is the first leasing company to offer the Nissan LEAF in Europe, said Nissan. The car will be mass-marketed globally from 2012 onwards.

The start of production at Zhengzhou Nissan’s second plant is a significant step forward because this plant is a tangible symbol of our growth strategy and the demanding goals we have set in China. Our investment in Zhengzhou Nissan’s second plant will also help strengthen the economy of the Zhengzhou City area,” said Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn.

Orders for the all-new Nissan March, Micra have surpassed regional monthly and annual targets in a very short period of time. First released in Thailand in mid-March, it has already topped 25,700 units which is 28% more than its yearly target of 20,000 units for the Thai market in six months.

Nissan Motor India, the wholly-owned arm of Japanese car maker Nissan Motor Company, has started production of its small car Micra on commercial basis at its Chennai plant. The Made-in-India hatchback car, Micra, is expected to hit Indian roads by July this year.

Nissan International SA announced that the all-electric five-seater Nissan LEAF will be priced at under 30,000 Euros (25,641 Pounds) after incentives in most of its European launch markets – about the same as a comparably equipped diesel or hybrid vehicle.