Nissan Offers Trunk Release Retrofits
For 1990 and Later Model Cars
8 June 1999
Retrofit Kits Being Designed for 4 Million VehiclesGARDENA, Calif. -- Nissan North America, Inc. announced today the development of interior trunk release mechanisms to be available to a targeted 4 million or more vehicles of 1990 model year and later Nissan and Infiniti cars. Later this year, Nissan expects to begin to make available trunk release retrofit kits for these vehicles, beginning with higher volume models. In addition, to further alert customers to the consequences of trunk entrapment, Nissan will include information on how to avoid trunk entrapment in Nissan and Infiniti owners' manuals during the 2000 model year. Nissan has been involved in programs emphasizing child safety in its vehicles for years. The Nissan Quest for Safety program provides advice and materials to educate consumers about proper ways to transport youngsters safely, including location of children in the vehicle and proper car-seat installation and use. The Quest for Safety program includes a toll free consumer hotline (800) 955-4500 and a free booklet, "What to Expect Guide for Child Seat Safety," written by the co-author of the "What to Expect While You're Expecting(TM)" book series, Heidi Murkoff. Since 1990, Nissan has sold approximately 6.4 million vehicles. Of that number, about 4.4 million were equipped with trunks, and could be retrofitted with a moderately priced , dealer-installed interior trunk release kit. In addition to retrofitting vehicles currently in service, Nissan and Infiniti dealers will make interior trunk release mechanisms available to new-car buyers later this year. "Interior trunk release mechanisms will be developed for the highest volume vehicles first. Final cost for the kits has not been set, however, we understand that it must be reasonably priced to appeal to the consumer," said Nissan's Jason Vines, vice president, corporate communications. In North America, Nissan's operations include styling, engineering, manufacturing, sales, and consumer and corporate financing. Nissan in North America employs more than 20,000 people in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and generates more than 70,000 jobs through more than 1,500 Nissan and Infiniti dealerships across the continent.