Nissan Leaf Passes Autonomous Driving Test, Notes Ferman Nissan of Tampa

    TAMPA, FL, February 06, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In November 2013, a fully autonomous all-electric Nissan Leaf passed its first real-world driving test in Japan, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on board.

The car was the first autonomous vehicle in Japan to be issued a license plate, making it legal to operate the car on public roads. It took to the streets around a public garden near Japan's parliament and the Imperial Palace.1 The car is equipped with Nissan's Autonomous Drive system, which includes cameras, laser scanners, and radar to detect moving objects, such as pedestrians, and stationary objects, such as traffic signals and stop signs. The information picked up by all these detection devices is processed on board and the car's computer decides how, and when, to accelerate, brake, and steer.1 The combination of sensors and computing power enables the car to merge, change lanes, and maintain a safe distance from other cars without any input from the driver.2

While a Nissan Leaf that drives itself isn't available at Nissan dealerships in Tampa yet, the manufacturer reports that these cars will be available at dealerships by 2020.1 Nissan has built a special proving ground at its Japanese headquarters where engineers can put the car through more difficult places to make sure it will perform safely in the real world.1

The redesigned 2013 Nissan Leaf, available at Ferman Nissan in Tampa, is the second generation of the zero-emissions, all-electric vehicle.3 Nissan says it will be another two vehicle generations before the new technology is ready for worldwide implementation.1

To learn more, please visit http://www.fermannissan.com.

1. "Japan's Prime Minister Rides in Nissan LEAF for First Autonomous Drive Public Road Test." Nissan News. nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/channels/Corporate-Technology/releases/japan-s-prime-minister-rides-in-nissan-leaf-for-first-autonomous-drive-public-road-test.

2. "Nissan Leaf Passes Autonomous Driving Test on Japanese Highway." AutoBlog Green. green.autoblog.com/2013/11/26/nissan-leaf-passes-autonoumous-driving-test-on-japanese-highway/.

3. Ferman Nissan. fermannissan.com/VehicleDetails/new-2013-Nissan-LEAF-4dr_HB_S-Tampa-FL/2134957713.

About Ferman Nissan:

Ferman Nissan is staffed with team members who have been with us for more than 30 years. And this experience and expertise is why we have guests who have purchased new and used cars from us for three, four, five and even six generations.

To learn more, please visit http://www.fermannissan.com.

# # #