Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., today 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 (USD 748 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 CO2 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.
Note: Amount in dollars are translated for the convenience of the reader only at the foreign exchange rate of 120.27 yen/dollar.
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Source: Nissan
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