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Semi-autonomous Nissan Leaf certified for road use in Japan [w/video]

In order to meet its goal of having an autonomous car in production by 2020, Nissan is going to have be able to test its technology in real-world driving conditions. For this, the automaker has just received a license plate to legally test its semi-autonomous driver assist systems in Japan, marking the first time such technologies have been tested on that country's roads. Not ironically, the license plate number is 2020.
Though not fully autonomous, this Leaf prototype will test various components of a self-driving car including exiting the highway, the ability to stay in its lane and change lanes when needed, stopping at red lights and overtaking stopped or slow traffic. Nissan is also in the process of building a proving ground in Oppama, Japan dedicated solely to autonomous cars, but the ability to test on public roads will obviously play a crucial role in the development of these cars. Scroll down for a short video and press release Nissan posted to mark the occasion.

Nissan Kicks concept debuts in Sao Paulo [w/videos]

The Sao Paulo Motor Show only comes around once every other year, and Nissan - an automaker deeply vested in the Latin American market - isn't missing out on the opportunity to showcase a new crossover concept.
Called the Kicks concept, the crossover seems to slot in size-wise in between the Juke and the Rogue. Nissan isn't saying much about it, though, aside from its having drawn its inspiration from Brazil with a "satin titanium" finish and bright orange trim - the former taking its cues from Sao Paulo and the latter from Rio.
While emphasizing its Brazilian character, Nissan also stresses that the concept's creation was "a product of global collaboration." So while it isn't saying anything about production feasibility, it is seemingly suggesting that if it were put into production - and as we stated previously, we think it just might - it could stand to be a global model and not confined strictly to South America.

Nissan beats 2Q expectations with $1.3b profit

Nissan reported its Q1 financial results through the April-June period, and Bloomberg reports that the Japanese automaker beat analyst expectations. The outlet averaged income estimates provided by 11 analysts to come up with a figure of 130.2 billion yen ($1.3 billion), while Reuters' analyst survey returned a estimate of 163 billion yen ($1.6 billion) in operating profit. Nissan easily beat them both with 152.8 billion in net income and 193.7 billion in operating profit. That profit number is up from 122.6 billion yen in the same quarter last year. The surge comes from increased US sales. June sales grew 13 percent, helping propel a 4.5-percent increase for the year so far and the best first-half calendar-year sales Nissan has had in ten years. Higher incentives have helped, as well as superheated Nissan Rogue sales; the crossover moved 99,302 units through the first six months of 2014, this year that number is 135,397, and observers expect its popularity to continue. In contrast to other automakers struggling with the slowdown in China, Nissan isn't doing so badly there. Growth rose by 5.7 percent in the first half of this year, a number that would have been larger but for depressed commercial vehicle sales because of the economy's slowdown. Nissan is sticking with its original targets, sure that government intervention and new models will hold the markets steady enough. The press release below has more information on the numbers. Nissan reports net income of $1.3 billion for first quarter of FY2015 Results for three months to June 30, 2015 (TSE report basis – China JV equity basis)* Acct - Q1 - Y-O-Y Net revenue - JPY2.90 trillion ($23.9 billion/ˆ21.6 billion) - +17.6% Operating profit - JPY193.7 billion ($1.6 billion/ˆ1.4 billion) - +58.0% Ordinary profit - JPY215.9 billion ($1.8 billion/ˆ1.6 billion) - +45.2% Net income** - JPY152.8 billion ($1.3 billion/ˆ1.1 billion) - +36.3% Based on average foreign exchange rates of JPY 121.4/USD and JPY 134.2/EUR YOKOHAMA, Japan , Jul. 29, 2015 – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced fiscal year first quarter financial results for the three months ending June 30, 2015. The company reported net revenue of $23.9 billion (2.90 trillion yen), an increase of 17.6% versus 2.47 trillion yen a year ago. Operating profit was $1.6 billion (193.7 billion yen), up from 122.6 billion yen, a 58.0% increase. Net income was $1.3 billion (152.8 billion yen), an increase of 36.3% versus 112.1 billion yen in the prior year.