Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., announced it would release a new family of global cars over the next two years with sales of the first variant to start in China in late 2006. The Livina Geniss, the name of the Chinese variant, will be the first Nissan car ever to be released in China ahead of other global markets.

"This new family of global cars represents a substantial investment for Nissan," said Nissan Executive Vice President Carlos Tavares. "We expect the Livina Geniss and the other variants to become significant contributors to Nissans growth in China and other key global markets," continued Tavares.

The Livina Geniss will make its world premiere at the Guangzhou International Motor Show later this month. Based on the concept of a luxurious, yet practical vehicle, the model seats up to seven people and accommodates a wide variety of customer needs. The exterior features a bold, modern design and is complemented by a highly flexible interior that provides multiple seating arrangements and a high standard specification.

Like the other models in this new global family, the Livina Geniss has been designed and engineered at the Nissan Technical Center in Atsugi, Japan and will be built on a Renault-Nissan Alliance common platform.

The Livina Geniss will be powered by a 1.8-litre petrol engine with C-VTC (Continuous Valve Timing Control) for improved power and torque. The model will be manufactured at Dongfeng Motor Co.'s (DFL) Huadu plant in Guangdong Province. DFL is Nissan's joint venture in China with Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Ltd. The other variants will be produced at different facilities around the world.