The announcement was made at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show*1 and this is the first time in the award’s 32- year history that an electric vehicle has won.

‘We have sold 20,000 Nissan LEAFs and also delivered on our promise of affordable, zero-emission mobility on a global scale. This award is as much a win for Nissan as it is for our customers,’ said Nissan president and chief executive officer, Carlos Ghosn. ‘All these accolades show that zero-emission vehicles can clearly be competitive alternatives to conventional ones.’

Nissan LEAF was also named the 2012 RJC Car of the Year award winner, presented by the Automotive Researchers’ & Journalists’ Conference of Japan, in addition to winning the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame’s 2011-2012 Car of the Year, the 2011 European Car of the Year and the 2011 World Car of the Year accolades. The Car of the Year Japan honour is further recognition of the Nissan LEAF’s value and attractiveness that has received high praise from customers around the world.

Only two cars have ever won more than one COTY award in the same year. The Nissan Micra (March in Japan) won both European and Japanese Car of the Year in 1993.

The 42nd Tokyo Motor Show is being held at the Tokyo Big Sight international exhibition center (3-11-1, Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan) from Saturday, December 3rd through Sunday, December 11th, 2011.