Nissan Motor Co. Ltd (NSANF)

Nissan Motor manufactures automobiles, buses, trucks and forklifts. The company is a mass market auto maker, producing compact low-cost vehicles, middle market models such as the Altima and Maxima as well as a luxury line through the Infiniti brand. Nissan's leadership is actively pursuing alternative power train technology, especially electric vehicles. The company has partnered with NEC to produce lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and seeks to sell electric vehicles to consumers and fleets in 2010. Nissan has had many electric vehicles over the years, with the first coming out in 1947. Nissan products are sold in over 150 countries and the firm is based in Tokyo. In addition to pursuing alternative technologies, Nissan continually seeks cost improvements through a global alliance with French automaker Renault. Renault owns about 44% of Nissan while Nissan owns 15% of Renault. The firms share management and other critical functions such as design and parts in order to achieve better economies of scale. With the crash in global vehicle demand in 2008, the companies have accelerated their synergy efforts.