2001 Nissan Maxima Gle Sedan 4-door 3.0l on 2040-cars

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Nissan introduces new seven-seat e-NV200 electric minivan

Intrigued by the prospect of an electric van like the Nissan e-NV200, but need to transport more people? The Japanese automaker may have just the solution. Nissan has announced the expansion of its battery-powered people-hauler with the new seven-seater e-NV200. Billed as the "world's first all-electric seven-seat MPV," the new model is being rolled out (in certain markets anyway) in response to popular demand, and packs an extra set of full-size seats in the back. The seven-seater joins the e-NV200 range alongside the existing panel van and five-seat versions. At the same time, Nissan has also announced the addition of a new premium Evalia trim for both five- and seven-seat versions. Previewed in concept form a few months ago, the e-NV200 Evalia is ideally suited for transporting VIPs in quiet luxury. NISSAN LAUNCHES SEVEN-SEAT E-NV200 - Seven-seat e-NV200 goes on sale in July - Model is world's first all-electric seven-seat MPV - Introduction of full-trim Evalia to e-NV200 line-up - Model launched in response to high demand Nissan will broaden the appeal of its award-winning all-electric e-NV200 this summer with the UK launch of a versatile and practical seven seat version. The new model – the world's first pure electric seven seater – is being introduced in response to huge interest from fleet operators and larger families keen to capitalise on the market-leading e-NV200's low running and maintenance costs and zero emissions performance. Prices start at GBP19,895 (incorporating the Government Plug-In Car Grant) for those choosing the convenience of the Nissan Flex battery leasing option*, and from GBP23,400 (inc PiCG) for those purchasing outright. At the same time, the e-NV200 line-up will be further strengthened with the addition of a new 'Evalia' version available in five and seven-seat form – offering a 'full trim' option for the ultimate combination of technology, style, sophistication and comfort. The developments mean the e-NV200 will be available as a panel van, five or seven-seat Combi, or five or seven-seat Evalia – giving customers the freedom to specify a vehicle that best suits their lifestyle or business requirements. Launched in response to demand The launch of the seven-seat version fills a gap in the market for an electric vehicle (EV) capable of accommodating larger groups of people. Private hire companies and shuttle services in particular have been keen to see its introduction since the e-NV200 was launched last year.

Nissan reports $4.13B net income for 2012

The news for Nissan is good when it comes to the company's results for the 2012 financial year that ended on March 31. Even though the numbers were down in many of the world's major markets, increased sales in the US, Brazil and the Middle East, ten new models and a strong fourth quarter allowed Nissan to hit its target for the year and notch record sales of 4.914 million units globally. On net revenue of $116 billion, Nissan posted net income of $4.13 billion and an operating profit of $6.31 billion.
There are upward-looking projections for this year, Nissan forecasting a 7.8-percent jump in sales to 5.3 million units, with $117.89 billion in net revenue and $4.42 billion in net income. That net revenue number probably won't actually match what's reported next year, though, because Nissan is changing its accounting method and won't include revenue and operating profit results from its joint venture with China's Dongfeng. Net income doesn't change under the new method, but the adjusted net revenue forecast is $109.16 billion.
There's a press release and two videos below with more details for those of you who go gaga for annual reports.

Half of Chinese car buyers won't shop Japanese over hard feelings

The hard feelings between China and Japan is no real secret. Besides modern-day disputes, the two countries have had a long-running enmity that dates back to well before the atrocities of World War II. All things considered, then, it shouldn't be a shock that half of Chinese car buyers wouldn't consider a Japanese car. This survey, conducted by Bernstein Research, found that 51 percent of 40,000 Chinese consumers wouldn't even consider a Japanese car – which, again, isn't really surprising, when you consider stories like this. According to Bernstein, the most troubling thing is the location of these sentiments – smaller, growing cities where the population is going to need sets of wheels. We imagine it wouldn't be as big of an issue in traffic-clogged Shanghai or Beijing, but these small cities are going to become a major focus for automakers. "Nationalistic feelings are an impediment. [Japanese] premium brands will struggle," analyst Max Warburton wrote in a research note, according to The Wall Street Journal. Things will improve for Japanese makes, although China will remain a challenge, with Warburton writing, "the one thing that comes out most clearly is that most Chinese really want a German car. While we expect Japanese brands to continue to recover market share this year, ultimately the market will belong to the Germans." There are a few other insights from the study. According to WSJ, Japanese brands are viewed better than Korean brands, and they're seen as more comfortable than the offerings from Germany or the US, despite the fact that everyone in China apparently wants a German car. This is a tough position for the Japanese makes to be in, as there's really not a lot they can do to win favor with Chinese buyers. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, particularly as the importance of the PRC continues to increase year after year. News Source: The Wall Street Journal - sub. req.Image Credit: Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP / Getty Images Honda Mazda Nissan Toyota Car Buying