GREEN WITH ENVY?

A HIGH-IMPACT MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION Nissan/Renault's Carlos Ghosn is a master of promotion. Since taking the reins at Nissan several years ago, some would argue that he was best at promoting himself. But since the industry hit hard times and Ghosn's own results started to falter, he has fallen back into the realm of the rest of us. When Ghosn announced his long-term vehicle electrification strategy and then followed up with the introduction of the all-new Leaf and its gasoline-free electric drivetrain, one had to take serious notice. Real results are a key motivator in his career and corporate strategies, and the Leaf represented real investment as well as real risk. News this week that initial interest in this vehicle is extremely strong must be allowing sighs of "re-Leaf" from Tokyo to Paris to Nashville. We believe that introduction of the Leaf, no matter the eventual vehicle volume, will be a high-impact moment in the history of the automobile and personal transportation. Shopping for a vehicle in the future will entail much more than choosing a brand, model, style and color. Rather, we see the actual method of propulsion itself having major implications and rewards to those who are honest with their true needs and expectations. The U.S. market will be diversified with choice as we move toward higher and higher mpg standards. Lots of highway mileage? Clean diesel is for you. Pass through stop-and-go traffic on your commute? Check out the latest hybrids. Rarely venture more than 20 miles from home? Perhaps a plug-in hybrid or BEV (battery electric vehicle) is for you. Ultimately, Carlos Ghosn will be remembered for making this third option real and available to the general public in 2010. James Bell, Executive Market Analyst Kelley Blue Book