Nissan gets adventurous with limited edition Navara Salomon Pick-Up.

• Limited edition Navara Salomon rolls into UK showrooms
• Based on popular Tekna trim with bespoke interior and exterior styling enhancements
• Available from £27,845 OTR including free £250 Salomon voucher

Nissan builds on current Navara success by working with Salomon, the leading mountain sports brand to add the Navara Salomon edition to its popular pick-up range. Limited to just 500 units, the Navara Salomon is based on the Tekna trim and features a long list of additional equipment and styling cues to make it unique.

Starting on the outside, styling enhancements such as the chrome front bar and door handles plus chrome fog light surrounds differentiate the Salomon from the rest of the range. This is complemented by unique Salomon branding on the front, side and rear of the vehicle which is available in Metallic Black, Twilight Grey, Starburst Silver or Alabaster White.

Moving inside, the Navara is complemented by Salomon entry guards, a metal plaque and Salomon floor mats. The value for all of this additional equipment would total over £1,300, however, the Navara Salomon costs just £750 more than the equivalent Tekna model giving the customer a saving in the region of £550. Prices start from £27,845 OTR and each Navara Salomon retail customer will get a £250 voucher to spend on Salomon gear.

For added functionality, customers can specify an automatic transmission for £1,755 and Nissan Connect Premium, which includes HDD satellite navigation, 9GB Nissan Music Box, DVD playback and a rear parking camera – costing £1,650.

The Navara is supremely capable at carrying the load thanks to 2.36m² load area with a maximum payload of 1,250kg. Its 2.5-litre 190PS turbodiesel engine also means it has more than enough power to tow items up to 2,600kg making it one of the most versatile and rugged pick-ups available.

UK RECALL #10 - NISSAN - Leaf recalled for possible loss of steering.

Vehicle Details
Reference :	R/2014/171
Manufacturer Ref :	RG4BR
Make:	NISSAN
Model :	Leaf
Launch Date :	19/01/2015
Numbers Involved :	4474
Build Start Date :	12/02/2013
Build End Date :	16/10/2014

Recall Details
Concern :	LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL
Description :	A fail safe clip on the steering column may have become dislodged during the assembly process. As a result the column may not have been correctly assembled. Over a period of time and under certain conditions the column may work loose and disconnect causing a loss of steering.
Remedial Action :	On affected vehicles, inspect column and where necessary replace the column shaft.
Vehicle Id :

Other Vehicles Affected (Click the vehicle to perform an extended search)

NISSAN - LEAF

NHTSA announces that about 64,000,000 vehicles were recalled in JUST the USA last year.

Carmakers recalled about 64 million vehicles in the U.S. last year, more than double the previous record set in 2004, according to official government data.

The tally released today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closes the book on one of the worst years ever for automotive safety as defective General Motors ignition switches and exploding Takata Corp. airbags sent millions of drivers to dealerships in search of repairs.

“These figures demonstrate the need for vigorous, effective oversight to remove safety defects from our highways,” NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind said in a statement. “When defective vehicles or equipment put Americans’ safety at risk, NHTSA will act.”

Rosekind said last month that 2015 may see an even greater number of recalls as regulators ratchet up the pressure on automakers to more quickly disclose and fix defects. Both the GM and Takata recalls occurred only after years of consumer complaints and multiple deaths that led to congressional hearings critical of NHTSA’s effectiveness at policing the industry.

The GM ignition switches have been linked to 52 deaths in the U.S. so far and the Takata airbag inflator ruptures are confirmed in four U.S. deaths and being investigated in a fifth.

The final tally for last year shows there were 803 automotive recalls, covering 63.9 million vehicles. About 3.5 million cars and trucks have been recalled so far this year, according to NHTSA data. Before last year, the annual record for recalls was set in 2004, when 30.8 million vehicles were recalled.

Even with 2014’s record tally, an estimated 46 million cars with unfixed recalls were still on the road at the end of the year and as many as 5 million of those changed ownership in 2014, according to Carfax Inc., which tracks vehicle sales and accident history.

REPORT HERE

Renault announces significant gains in annual sales, revenues and profits.

• New registrations up 3.2% to 2.7 million units
• Group revenues: €41,055 million (+0.3%). Excluding foreign exchange rate effect, +3.1%
• Group operating profit: €1,609 million, or 3.9% of revenues, compared to €1,242 million and 3.0% in 2013
• Automotive operating profit: €858 million, compared to €495 million in 2013 (2.2% vs 1.3%)
• Group operating income: €1,105 million versus minus €34 million
• Net income: €1,998 million versus €695 million in 2013
• Positive Automotive operational free cash flow: €1,083 million

“We met all the objectives announced for 2014. This milestone positions us on track to achieve our strategic plan, ‘Renault Drive the Change’. 2015 should allow us to take a new step forward, thanks to an unprecedented product offensive in the history of Renault,” said Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Renault.

In 2014, Group revenues came to €41,055 million, an increase of 0.3% compared to 2013. At constant exchange rates, revenues grew by 3.1%.

The contribution of the Automotive division to revenues amounted to €38,874 million, up 0.3% vs 2013. The Group offset negative currency variations by increasing prices outside Europe and by the strong growth of sales to partners.

The Group's operating profit reached €1,609 million, compared to €1,242 million in 2013 (3.9% of revenues vs 3.0% in 2013).

The Automotive operating profit rose by €363 million to €858 million, representing 2.2% of revenues. This performance results from cost reductions and from growth in sales while unfavorable foreign exchange rates and the enrichment of some end-of-life models impacted negatively.

Sales Financing contributed to €751 million to Group operating profit compared to €747 million in 2013. The drop in net banking income was offset by an increase in average loans outstanding and by growth in services. The cost of risk remained stable at 0.43%.

Other operating income and expense items were negative by €504 million, mostly due to restructuring costs of €305 million and the impairment of assets for €153 million.

Group operating income came to €1,105 million compared to -€34 million in 2013. This improvement results from the increase in operating profit and the reduction in other operating expenses of €772 million.

The contribution of associated companies, mainly Nissan, was €1,362 million, compared to €1,444 million in 2013, including the negative contribution of AVTOVAZ for -€182 million.

Net income came to €1,998 million and net income, Group share, to €1,890 million (€6.92 per share compared to €2.15 per share in 2013).

Automotive operational free cash flow was positive at €1,083 million, due to the increase in profitability, as well as a positive change of €596 million in the working capital requirement over the period.

A dividend of €1.90 per share, vs €1.72 last year, will be submitted for approval at the next Shareholders’ Annual General Meeting.

2015 OUTLOOK

In spite of the uncertainties surrounding numerous economies, global car demand should continue to grow this year (+2 %). The European market should also show a slight positive growth (+2 %) while we continue to expect high volatility in our main emerging markets:

In this context, Renault Group aims to:

• increase further its registrations and revenues (at constant exchange rates),
• continue to improve the Group’s operating margin and that of the Automotive division,
• generate positive Automotive operational free cash flow.

Renault consolidated Results

€ million	2014	2013	Change
Group revenues	41,055	40,932	+0.3 %
Operating profit % of revenues	1,609 3.9 %	1,242 3.0 %	+367 +0.9pts
Other operating income and expenses items	-504	-1,276	+772
Operating income	1,105	-34	+1,139
Net financial income	-333	-282	-51
Contribution from associated companies	1,362	1,444	-82
o/w : NISSAN	1,559	1,498	+61
AVTOVAZ	-182	-34	-148
Current and deferred taxes	-136	-433	+297
Net income	1,998	695	+1,303
Net income, Group share	1,890	586	+1,304
Automotive operational free cash flow	1,083	827	+256