Nissan joins 100 Resilient Cities network

Car maker wants to work with cities lay the groundwork for autonomous drive, electric vehicles and new mobility services.

Nissan has joined 100 Resilient Cities (100RC), a network pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation that seeks to help cities accommodate and benefit from physical, social, and economic challenges. Nissan and 100RC will work with cities lay the groundwork for autonomous drive, electric vehicles and new mobility services.

Nissan chairman and chief executive Officer Carlos Ghosn announced the partnership at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Ghosn told delegates that the policy and regulatory environment will be critical to enable the advancement of these technologies. Increasingly these debates are being played out on the stage of the world’s growing cities.

“The biggest transformations will not take place inside our vehicles, or even inside our companies,” Ghosn said. “Rather, they will take place on the stage of the world’s cities. From population growth, to the increase in elderly populations, to the stresses on transportation infrastructure, cities are facing challenges that could be solved, in part, by mobility solutions. To align technology, policy, and planning, automakers and cities must work as partners.”

Nissan becomes the first automotive company to join 100RC’s Platform Partners, a group of more than 90 leading companies, non-profit organisations, and other experts providing free tools and services to the 100 member cities of the network.

The partnership seeks to transform city streetscapes, making urban environments more livable and improving safe mobility.

“Cities are ever-more on the forefront of tackling the world’s biggest problems – from shocks due to a changing climate to stresses due to rapid urbanisation and globalisation,” said 100RC president Michael Berkowitz. “The partnership between 100RC and Nissan will begin priming cities for new automotive technology, while creating better mobility for citizens, and building long-term resilience to the shocks and stresses cities may face.”

Nissan and 100RC will convene city leaders and chief resilience officers from cities throughout the network for workshops to discuss the pressing issues cities face in planning for future mobility technologies and services. Based on these discussions, Nissan will develop a report on initial findings and opportunities, which will be available to all cities in the network.

Additionally, Nissan will work with selected cities to test and pilot emerging mobility technologies, such as autonomous drive, driverless cars, electric vehicles and charging and vehicle-to-grid infrastructure, to enable cities to better plan for their adoption on a large scale. 

Ghosn said there will be additional opportunities to ensure new technologies are to the benefit of all communities, especially those not currently connected by public transportation.

More than 50% of cities that belong to 100RC have identified transportation and sustainability as key issues in developing their resilience strategies.

Ghosn said Nissan has a record of working with cities and regions to test and integrate new technologies, and today’s announcement adds to this legacy. As a Japanese automaker whose manufacturing plants were affected by the 2011 Japan earthquake, Nissan also understands the importance of resilience-building, and the role of business to help ensure communities are able withstand a range of crises.

Ghosn said: “We invite others to join us, as well, from tech partners to e-commerce companies, ride-hailing and car-sharing platforms, and social entrepreneurs who can help us to test and develop new vehicles and services, and make sure everyone has access to the latest technologies and services that bring value to their lives.”