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NATC TO SPEARHEAD INNOVATIONS IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY
TECHNOLOGIES
TOKYO ¡ª Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., inaugurated the Nissan Advanced Technology
Center (NATC), its latest state-of-the-art R&D facility, located in Kanagawa
prefecture, Japan. NATC will spearhead innovations in environmental and safety
technologies, allowing Nissan¡¯s vehicle development engineers to work more
effectively in one centralized facility.
¡°NATC has been established to accelerate the research and advanced
engineering of breakthrough technologies for Nissan¡¯s next generation products.
Future technologies being developed are aimed at environmental sustainability
and towards creating a safer mobile society,¡± said Mitsuhiko Yamashita,
executive vice president, Nissan Motor Company.
¡°The center will focus on environmental technologies to fulfill the goals set
out under the Nissan Green Program 2010 mid-term action plan and beyond,¡± added
Yamashita. At NATC, Nissan¡¯s engineers will pursue a range of green technologies
to address the challenges of CO2 reduction including electric vehicles, hybrids
and plug-in hybrids
Nissan has also pioneered the Intelligent Transportation System under the SKY
Project where data received from traffic-beacons is used to alert drivers and
help reduce potential road accidents. More ¡°world-first¡± technologies such as
the Distance Control Assist System, Lane Departure Prevention and Around View
Monitor are being developed.
NATC is more evidence of Nissan¡¯s long-term investment vision. Nissan has
recently opened its new global design center in Atsugi, and is now constructing
its new global headquarters in Yokohama as well as the new headquarters for the
Americas in Nashville, TN.
The new facility will host 2,000 employees. It will feature an Advanced
Vehicle Lab and Electric Powertrain Lab. Nissan¡¯s investment in NATC including
several R&D and upgrade projects total 90 billion yen (AUD 833 million).
This investment includes renovations to the existing powertrain development
center and construction of the global design studio, both located at the Nissan
Technical Center (NTC).
The architectural concept of the NATC was designed to enhance communication
and facilitate greater collaboration amongst the various R&D teams to
promote a culture of cross-functional innovation. This ¡°open¡± concept promotes
collaborative efforts with external engineers from the supply base or visiting
academics and researchers. Examples include ¡°collaboration rooms¡± fitted with
vehicle-lifts that can accommodate up to 200 people. The facility interior
features a unique stepped-architectural design for an unobstructed view of the
activities going on in the vehicle pit-lane on the first floor of the building.
Attention was placed on energy conservation and minimizing CO£² emissions in
the design and operation of the building. The new facility is expected to be
accorded the highest ¡°S¡± ranking under the Comprehensive Assessment System for
Building Environmental Efficiency (CASBEE).
Nissan has two other major facilities based in the Kanagawa Prefecture for
product planning, R&D and advanced development - the Nissan Technical Center
(NTC) in Atsugi and Nissan Research Center (NRC) in Yokosuka.
By 2009, Nissan will relocate its global headquarters to Yokohama City. The
combined presence of Nissan¡¯s Yokohama engine plant, Oppama manufacturing plant,
the newly upgraded NTC and all-new NATC will reinforce Nissan¡¯s historical
legacy in the Kanagawa Prefecture. Nissan is dedicated to cultivate a
mutually-successful partnership by contributing positively to the economic and
community development of Kanagawa.
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