| The recent spikes in the price of gasoline have | | | | or without Nissan vent visors are made available by |
| forced car buyers to look for more fuel efficient | | | | the Asian brand in the European car market. |
| vehicles which in turn affected car manufacturers. | | | | In developing a clean diesel engine for future vehicles |
| Automakers are now focusing on the development | | | | to be released in the global market, Nissan is |
| of smaller cars which are considered more fuel | | | | expected to solicit the help of its partner, the French |
| efficient than large vehicles such as sport utility | | | | car manufacturer Renault. The development and |
| vehicles and pickup trucks. | | | | subsequent release of clean diesel engines by Nissan |
| Car manufacturers like the Toyota Motor | | | | is a step towards meeting stricter emission standards |
| Corporation, the Honda Motor Corporation and the | | | | that will take effect in the near future. These |
| Ford Motor Company have developed and produced | | | | technologically advanced diesel engines are also |
| fuel efficient vehicles using the hybrid technology. | | | | considered to be Nissan’s effort to protect the |
| While hybrid vehicles boast of a good fuel economy, | | | | environment amidst growing concerns about the |
| they are priced much higher than conventional | | | | threat of global warming. |
| gasoline engined vehicles. | | | | “Nissan is fully engaged in reducing emissions and |
| While hybrid vehicles are popular in the United States, | | | | improving fuel economy and efficiency. Launching a |
| in the European car market, clean diesel engines are | | | | clean diesel engine in the U.S. will offer customers the |
| viewed as a better answer to the growing threat of | | | | benefits of fuel economy, CO2 reduction and a |
| global warming. German car companies such as | | | | satisfying, fun-to-drive performance that is a hallmark |
| Mercedes Benz and Audi have been developing and | | | | of the Nissan brand,” says Nissan and Renault |
| producing clean diesel engines. Following the steps of | | | | CEO Carlos Ghosn. “You can expect to see more |
| these European brands is a Japanese brand - Nissan. | | | | diesel engines in our product lineup in Europe, Japan, |
| The car company’s chief executive officer | | | | North America and China by fiscal year 2010,” |
| recently announced that they will be offering a clean | | | | added Ghosn. |
| diesel engined car in the United States in the near | | | | In Europe, diesel engines are increasingly becoming |
| future. This is an effort to address the growing | | | | popular. That is why Nissan is currently offering the |
| demand for fuel efficient vehicles which are also | | | | said engine in that region. New technologies made |
| environment friendly. | | | | these diesel engines perform better and produce less |
| Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn announced just recently | | | | greenhouse gases. In the United States, diesel |
| that they will be releasing a diesel powered Maxima in | | | | engines have received a bad reputation in the past |
| the United States auto market by the year 2010. | | | | decades which makes them not as popular as gas |
| The announcement made auto industry experts to | | | | electric hybrid vehicles which seems to be the |
| predict that Nissan will be offering vehicles which | | | | current trend in the industry. |
| closely resemble those made by German car | | | | Last year, Nissan revealed their “Green |
| manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and | | | | Program” which focuses on the reduction of |
| Audi. | | | | greenhouse gas emission. This is one of the major |
| Aside from the United States, Nissan will also release | | | | steps being taken by the Asian brand to support the |
| the diesel Maxima in other countries like Japan and | | | | effort of the United States government and a large |
| China. Currently, diesel-powered Nissan vehicles with | | | | portion of its citizens to become energy independent. |