issan says its joint venture with electronics maker NEC Corp. will invest 12 billion yen to start mass-producing lithium-ion batteries _ a technology that's widely viewed as key for next-generation green cars.
Nissan Motor Co. Executive Vice President Carlos Tavares told reporters Monday the Japanese automaker wants to be a global leader in ''zero-emission vehicles.''
A plant for the batteries, set to be running by 2009, will have annual production capacity of 65,000, and starting capacity at 13,000. The investment will be over three years, Nissan said.