The Renault-Nissan Alliance Enters Zero-Emission Vehicle Partnership in Sonoma County

SAN FRANCISCO (Map) - SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Renault-Nissan Alliance today announced that Nissan North America, Inc. is committing to working with the Sonoma County community of governments to develop solutions for zero-emissions mobility through the promotion of electric vehicles (EVs) and the development of an EV charging network throughout Sonoma County, in northern California.

Nissan as part of the agreement has committed to make available a supply of EVs to Sonoma County community of governments, as well as to work with the parties to develop plans for the creation of an EV battery-charging network in the county. The Sonoma County group will work with Nissan towards realizing these objectives, particularly through the development of methods that encourage the purchase or lease of EVs as well as the establishment of an EV charging network.

"This represents a major step forward, not only for Sonoma County but also for the future of electric vehicles in the United States," said Dominique Thormann, senior vice president, administration and finance, Nissan North America, Inc. "Nissan is looking forward to working together to make zero-emissions mobility a reality for consumers."

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has committed the Alliance to be a global leader in zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). Nissan will introduce ZEVs in the United States and Japan in 2010 and will make them available to the mass market, globally, two years later. The Sonoma County community of governments has committed to a greenhouse gas reduction target of 25 percent, with the goal of bringing greenhouse gas levels to below those of 1990, by 2015. The encouragement of a transportation shift to smart transit, including EVs, is key to the plan's execution.

"The nine cities and county governments of Sonoma County are proud to be working towards developing the first national network of electric vehicles right here in Sonoma County," said Mike Kerns, chair of the Board of Sonoma County Supervisors. "Together we are starting to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and emissions levels."

The Renault-Nissan Alliance has begun ZEV initiatives in Israel, Denmark, Portugal, Monaco, Kanagawa Prefecture (Japan), and with French electric utility company EDF. In the United States, the Alliance also has agreed to a ZEV partnership with the State of Tennessee the Tennessee Valley Authority, and other partners, to explore ways to promote zero-emission mobility in Middle Tennessee. Earlier this week, Nissan entered into a partnership with the State of Oregon in conjunction with utility company Portland General Electric.

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.infiniti.com .

The Renault-Nissan Alliance, founded in 1999, sold 6,160,046 vehicles in 2007. The objective of the Alliance is to rank among the world's top three vehicle manufacturers in terms of quality, technology and profitability.