Nissan opens NATC

today inaugurated the Nissan Advanced Technology Centre (NATC), its latest R&D facility located in Kanagawa prefecture,

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According to a statement, NATC will spearhead innovations in environmental and safety technologies, allowing Nissan’s vehicle development engineers to work more effectively in one centralised facility. Safety technologies to be developed at NATC include a Distance Control Assist System and an Around View Monitor.

‘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 centre will focus on environmental technologies to fulfil the goals set out under the Nissan Green Program 2010 mid-term action plan and beyond,’ added Yamashita.

The new facility will host 2,000 employees and will feature an Advanced Vehicle Lab and Electric Powertrain Lab. Nissan’s investment in NATC, including several R&D and upgrade projects, total $748m. This investment includes renovations to the existing powertrain development centre and construction of the global design studio, both located at the Nissan Technical Centre (NTC).

Nissan has two other major facilities based in the Kanagawa Prefecture for product planning, R&D and advanced development - the Nissan Technical Centre (NTC) in Atsugi and Nissan Research Centre (NRC) in Yokosuka.