Under the Nissan banner, the company will deploy the Leaf battery sedan, with 100-mile, all-electric range.
But Mr Ito is far from convinced that there will be a significant market for this technology, even as rival Nissan has plans to rapidly expand production of its Leaf battery car and add additional electric models.At a recent briefing Honda revealed a broad array of new powertrain designs that it claims will position it as the fuel economy leader in every segment it competes in.
I even kept the radio's volume low although the on-board Leaf battery meter said that was pointless and didn't reduce the draw on the battery; I wanted to make sure I was giving this Leaf a fair chance.
While motor enthusiasts around the world watched the happenings at the Toronto and Chicago auto shows, across the Atlantic, Nissan Europe stole a bit of limelight with a standout announcement of its own: a plan to offer glow-in-the-dark paint on the company's Leaf battery-electric vehicle.
The 2013 model year Leaf battery warranty covers a gradual loss of charge for five years or 60000 mile.
The car includes access to fast chargers that can recharge a Leaf battery to 80% power in about 30 minutes.
The University of Tokyo School of Engineering's new battery technology can squeeze seven times as much energy into a battery, such as this Nissan LEAF battery, which would give the car a range of 500 miles.
By early September 2012, Nissan Executive Vice President said that there is "no problem" with the LEAF battery, and that the any customer complaints were merely the result of instrument problems".
In addition to the Leaf, the batteries could power future Nissan vehicles.
Nissan said production of the Leaf and batteries would entail investment of more than £420 million, or $643 million, in Sunderland, supported by a British government grant of £20.7 million and a proposed financing package of as much as 220 million from the European Investment Bank.
