1986 Nissan 300zx Turbo Coupe 2-door 3.0l Phone 760-949-3640 on 2040-cars

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Nissan already planning for EV sales once incentives run out

The way Nissan looks at it, no good deed goes unpunished. The Japanese automaker will likely be the first to see federal incentives for its electric vehicles disappear. And the company may already be trying to work out some wiggle room with the powers that be. The issue is that the Nissan Leaf is the most popular electric-vehicle in the US, moving more than 77,000 vehicles since the model's late-2010 debut. Sales have likely been helped by the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs (along with additional state incentives), but that perk starts to disappear for Nissan once the automaker has sold a cumulative 200,000 EVs. Even though that's likely a few years off, Nissan North America executive Pierre Loing told Wards Auto that the company is talking with the feds to see if there is "room for negotiations." In the meantime, Nissan is trying to further cut battery-production costs in order to both reduce the price on the Leaf and lengthen its single-charge range. Nissan notably shaved $6,400 off of the Leaf's sticker price in early 2013, and that seems to have worked wonders. Leaf sales more than doubled that year to 22,610 units and jumped another 34 percent last year to 30,200 units. Featured Gallery 2013 Nissan Leaf View 13 Photos News Source: Wards Auto Government/Legal Green Nissan Electric legislation

Carlos Ghosn's detention extended over fresh allegations

TOKYO — A Japanese court on Friday approved the detention of former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn through April 14 after his latest arrest over financial misconduct allegations, a move that has raised questions among legal experts. The former star executive was taken into custody Thursday over fresh allegations that $5 million sent by a Nissan Motor Co. subsidiary and meant for an Oman dealership was diverted to a company effectively controlled by Ghosn. Ghosn spent nearly four months in detention and was just released last month after meeting stringent bail conditions while he awaits trial over earlier allegations that he under-stated his compensation in financial documents, had Nissan shoulder his personal investment losses and made dubious payments to a Saudi businessman. The Tokyo District Court on Friday approved the initial 10-day detention request from prosecutors, who can seek another 10-day extension before needing to file charges against Ghosn, release him or accuse him of fresh misconduct that needs investigating. Stringing out a suspect's arrest for the full 20 days and then raising fresh accusations is common in Japan, where it is known as a "rearrest." Critics say it allows suspects to be grilled by the authorities, resulting in some signing confessions to crimes they never committed. But it is rare for a suspect to receive bail and then be taken back into custody. Ghosn, 65, was first arrested Nov. 19 and released March 6 on 1 billion yen ($8.9 million) bail, after two previous rearrests. He says he is innocent of all allegations. Prosecutors argue the latest allegations are different from the previous ones, but his legal team says they are part of the same scenario of alleged wrongdoing. In demanding the latest detention, prosecutors argued Ghosn may tamper with evidence related to the fresh allegations. Prosecutors had earlier fought against bail for Ghosn, a citizen of France, Brazil and Lebanon, arguing he was a flight risk. Ghosn's lawyer Junichiro Hironaka pointed out prosecutors have already raided Ghosn's property and taken everything, leaving little to tamper with.

Recharge Wrap-up: Tesla factory tour video, Obama rejects Keystone XL

Tesla takes us on a 90-second factory tour in a new video. In the footage, we see humans and robots hard at work putting together the electric cars we all know and love. Pieces of the manufacturing process are interspersed with larger shots of the factory floor. In the end, we see the finished product leave the factory and speed off onto a cone course. Check it out in the video above. President Obama has rejected the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline. After a seven-year review, he says it would not be in America's interest to build the 1,179-mile pipeline to bring oil from Canada's tar sands to the Gulf of Mexico. He cites passing a bipartisan infrastructure bill as a better way to create jobs, says US gas prices are already falling, and that reducing reliance on fossil fuels is a better way toward energy security. "The industry can find a different way to move that oil," says Christine Tezak, energy market analyst at ClearView Energy Partners. "If prices go up, companies will get the oil out." Read more at The New York Times. Chevrolet is donating a 2016 Volt to support For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST). Donations raised from the auction will help the organization bring student robotics projects to communities in need of greater science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education representation. "The Volt exemplifies technology, and behind the next-generation Chevrolet Volt is a diverse team of engineers who understand the power of science and math," says Chevrolet Marketing Director Steve Majoros. "FIRST brings science and math alive outside the classroom, just like we are bringing it alive on the road." Read more from Chevrolet. Nissan has been ranked among the top five percent of global corporations in the Carbon Disclosure Project's (CDP) 2015 Climate Change Report. Nissan scored a perfect 100 points in CDP's Climate Disclosure Leadership Index. Nissan's successful Leaf EV, as well as its efforts to reduce well-to-wheel CO2 emissions by 90 percent by 2050, earned the automaker its high marks. "Nissan is providing customers with innovative products and promoting effective use of energy and resource by increasing sourcing diversity, such as with renewable energy and recycled materials," says Nissan Corporate Vice President Joji Tagawa. "We will continue our activities to achieve our environmental philosophy of 'a Symbiosis of People, Vehicles and Nature.'" Read more in the press release below.