Nissan's car that stops you drink and driving

ITWorld quotes
The first attempts to detect alcohol in the driver's sweat. After drinking, a certain amount of alcohol escapes the body in perspiration and this can be picked up by sensitive detectors if they are in proximity with the driver.

One of the four sensors in the car is on the gear shift lever. As this has to be touched in order to start driving, the system can stop the car from being started if alcohol is detected.

A second system in the car uses a camera mounted in front of the driver to monitor eye movement. If the driver is drowsy it triggers the seat belt to tighten and this movement will hopefully snap the driver out of their drowsiness or prompt them to take a rest. A voice alert also sounds and a message pops up on the navigation screen.

In the prototype the system quickly administered a few jerks to the seat belt when the driver simulated tiredness.

A third system monitors the path of the vehicle to ensure it's traveling in a straight line and not weaving about the road, as is common with a drunken driver. This also triggers the voice and visual alerts and pulls the seat belt when signs of drunk driving or drowsiness are detected.




When the detected alcohol level is above a preset threshold - which can be at or below the legal limit - the system locks the transmission, immobilising the car.

A “drink-driving” voice alert is sounded via the car’s satellite navigation system.

The technology would be attractive to drivers with a drink problem, and could bring benefits to others in the form of low insurance premiums.

More from Nissan

Nissan to build 3000$ car
Nissans indian ally - Mahindra
Worlds Cheapest Cars!

Skoda plans to enter small car market... Can they beat Nissan's 3000$ car?

SkodaIndia, a fully-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen Group’s SkodaAuto of Czech Republic, on 27 June revealed the company’s plan to launch Skoda Fabia, its first small car in the Indian market.
“We are planning to launch the car by the end of this year. Fabia is very well accepted globally and with our experience in the car business, we are confident of receiving a similar response from the Indian customers as well,” Skoda India Managing Director (Commercial) Karsten Bogun said.
Bogun was talking to reporters here after the opening of the company’s new dealership in Vadodara and Ahmedabad.
“Skoda India is glad to bring two new dealership to Gujarat, the most industrialised state in India today. We do believe that these dealership will play a vital role in increasing our costumers in Gujarat and will also help us to achieve a bigger market here,” he said.
He said the company plans to expand its dealer network to 58 across the country by end of this year.
In the last five years SkodaIndia has sold over 43,000 units. This year the company has set a sale target of 17,000 units.
The company has a plant in Aurangabad district in Maharashtra, spread across 300,000 square meters.

Nissan's Ghosn Says Mahindra Is Likely India Car Partner

Nissan Motor Co. Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said Wednesday that Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. will likely be its local partner for the Japanese company's low-price car project for the Indian market.

Speaking at a roundtable meeting with the media in Bangkok, Mr. Ghosn said Nissan is seriously studying the Indian project and will have sufficient information to make a decision on whether to start making a budget car when one of its main rivals in India -- Tata Motors Ltd. -- launches its own $3,000 low-cost car next year.

"Although we haven't finalized any deal yet, it's rather obvious that Mahindra is our Indian national partner," Mr. Ghosn said in response to a question on who might be Nissan's local partner for the budget car project. "We'll be ready when the (Tata) car comes to the market as we'll have enough information. If it makes sense we'll be ready to start (production of our own model)."

Small compact cars make up more than two-thirds of the Indian market. Analysts expect passenger vehicle sales in India to nearly double to two million units a year by 2010.

Mr. Ghosn also said Nissan's investment in new technologies such as lithium-ion batteries will help it narrow the gap or even put it ahead of competitors down the road, the Associated Press reported.

Quotes WSJ

Related Post

Nissan to build 3000$ car

Nissan to build 3000$ car

Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said Wednesday the Japanese automaker was working on a super-cheap $3,000 car for the Indian market, but the date for its sale was still undecided.

Ghosn said the need for such a vehicle is apparent for the Indian market and because a rival has already announced that one was coming.

Nissan Motor Co will work on the car with its French alliance partner Renault SA and a local Indian partner, Ghosn said.

``You don't want to be surprised when the $3,000 car arrives in the market,'' he told reporters. ``We are gathering a lot of information.''

Nissan Motor Co of Japan and Renault SA of France are considering launching in India a car priced at 3,000 usd, according to the head of the two companies, Carlos Ghosn.

Ghosn told reporters: 'The very likely situation is: if we build a car like this, it will be done in India because the suppliers are there, the plants will be there and the environment in India will be very favorable to a frugal product definition.'


Earlier Renault made a statement about their interest in making a 3000$ car

Related Post
Nissan's Ghosn Says Mahindra Is Likely India Car Partner