In October, I had the incredible opportunity to join the Japan Mobility Show employee tour as one of Nissan Canada's Champion Employee Ambassadors. I journeyed to Tokyo, Japan, alongside 22 other fortunate employee ambassadors and representatives from around the world.
Nissan Heritage Collection
What better way to commence our tour than with a visit to Nissan's heritage collection in Zama! This expansive warehouse was one of Nissan's earliest manufacturing plants, and now houses hundreds of carefully preserved Datsun, Prince and Nissan cars dating back to 1933.
I had to stop and admire the TAMA; Prince’s first electric car from 1947. A great reminder of the electrified legacy behind us.
While over half of the warehouse consists of road cars, a good portion is dedicated to Nissan's racing history. One of the highlights for me was seeing the super car that came third at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1998.
Japan Mobility Show
During our visit, our CEO, Uchida-san, unveiled the long-awaited fifth concept, marking the culmination of a month-long reveal: the Hyper Force. This all-electric high-performance supercar is designed to provide the ultimate driving experience while maintaining high environmental performance and everyday comfort. Equipped with both augmented and virtual reality experiences, it seamlessly blurs the lines between the real and virtual worlds (think Gran Turismo!).
I also got to meet Eporo - Nissan's fishy robot.
In their quest to develop the cars of tomorrow, Nissan engineers draw on many sources of knowledge and inspiration. One source that has helped them learn how autonomous vehicles can avoid collisions is Mother Nature. Inspired by the behaviour of fish forming a school while swimming, the engineers developed Eporo, a robot designed to demonstrate how cars can move safely and efficiently, whether alone or in a group. Eporo is part of Nissan's decades-long pursuit of new technologies that can make cars safer and more intelligent.
Another revelation was discovering how the Nissan LEAF can power buildings through vehicle-to-grid technology. Nissan has adapted its electric cars to supply battery power to buildings during emergencies, a service they've been providing since the first generation of the LEAF was launched in 2010.
Our day reached an incredible high when we had the privilege of meeting Uchida-san in person.
Can you spot him in our selfie?
He photobombed our picture when he came to greet us (top right corner). His humility, simplicity and transparency were truly awe-inspiring. He emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusion as key contributors to the company's success.
Nissan's Advanced Technology Center
We were among the first to visit the newly redesigned Nissan design hall, a facility dedicated to further digitalize the design process and enhance design quality. With features like an ultrawide 24K curved screen, a full-colour ceiling screen, remote lighting, and a 7.1-channel sound system, the experience is immersive and closely replicates real-world customer use. This facility is committed to creating products that better match customer needs by fusing the physical and digital worlds.
During the tour, we had the privilege of hearing from Alfonso Albaisa, SVP of Global Design, Giovanny Arroba (the designer of the Nissan ARIYA), and Ivan Espinosa, SVP Global Product Strategy and Product Planning Division. They generously walked us through the future product strategy and showcased forthcoming products. While I can't reveal all the details, I can confidently say that both Nissan and INFINITI's future look incredibly promising!
A Morning at the Yokohama Plant
Nissan's journey began with a small 4-cylinder engine in 1933, leading to the establishment of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. in Yokohama, Japan. The Yokohama Plant, launched in 1935, pioneered mass production in Japan and now produces crucial automotive components across a vast 540,000 square metres. Notably, the GT-R engine is carefully crafted by "Takumi" experts, a testament to Nissan's craftsmanship. The building housing the engine museum still retains much of its original office space from that era.
Nissan Global Headquarters
The final stop of our incredible journey culminated at the Nissan Global Headquarters in Yokohama. The 4,000-square-metre lobby of the 22-story office building serves as a showroom for Nissan cars. It was there that I had the pleasure of seeing INFINITI's Vision Qe, a concept that truly captured my heart.
As I embarked on this trip, my expectations were to gain insights into Nissan and INFINITI's heritage and Japanese culture, the very culture that underpins this unique organization. What I didn't anticipate was the overwhelming sense of excitement I would feel about our brands' future.
The leadership team in Japan is inspiring, passionate, and eager to do what others may not - embodying the very essence of our company's DNA.
The future is brimming with excitement. Truly, the best is yet to come.