Nissan Motor to roll out 15 hybrid models in U.S. by 2017

Nissan Motor Co. said it will extend its offering of hybrids with 15 new models by 2017; the company also plans to introduce new electric vehicles. Nissan is Japan’s second-largest automaker and it is determined to move ahead of its competitors in the low- and zero-emission cars sector. In line with this goal, the company will sell an electric version of its Infiniti luxury car in 2014, and a fourth model will be launched in 2016.
The company continues to move away from gasoline engines even as it struggles to sell its Leaf electric car in the United States, where EVs manufactured by Nissan and other carmakers have fallen short of consumers’ expectations. Nissan introduced the Leaf in 2010 and some drivers have complained that the vehicle’s battery capacity decreases too quickly.
In November, Nissan’s car sales in China crashed amid anti-Japanese protests over a territorial dispute and the company cut its full-year net profit forecast by 20%. Nissan is more exposed in China than home rivals Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. High sales of its hybrids and EVs in the United States could help shield Nissan from any downturn in sales in China. (December 12, 2012)