Nissan Foundation Seeks Grantees for 2004; Charitable Contribution Arm of Nissan North America Also Announces New Funding Priorities

LOS ANGELES--Nov. 1, 20037, 2003--The Nissan Foundation, a charitable giving arm of Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA), is currently seeking grantees for its 2004 grant year. Nonprofit organizations in Southern California, North Central Texas, Middle Tennessee and South Central Mississippi with projects that support the Foundation's new mission to "build community by valuing cultural diversity, and create career potential for young adults in the automotive industry," are encouraged to apply.

"The Nissan Foundation is committed to enriching people's lives and adding value to the communities in which Nissan operates," said Jim Morton, president of the Nissan Foundation. "Through the Foundation, we seek to build proactive relationships with nonprofit organizations that are bold, thoughtful, and innovative in their approach to meeting community needs."

NNA founded the "Nissan Foundation" with a $5,000,000 endowment in 1992 following the civil unrest that occurred in Los Angeles that summer. Over the next 10 years, the Nissan Foundation donated over $1,500,000 to 55 nonprofits to promote economic development, job creation and academic advancement in South Central Los Angeles.

The Nissan Foundation also announced that it has launched new funding initiatives. In 2002, the Nissan Foundation underwent key changes to ensure that its efforts continued to meet the needs of the community, while remaining aligned to Nissan's core values and business goals. These changes included developing a new mission, appointing a national board of directors with representatives from each of Nissan's major U.S. affiliates, and expanding the geographic reach of the Foundation to include communities surrounding Nissan's U.S. affiliates. The Nissan Foundation also revised its funding areas to: "Building Community Through Valuing Cultural Diversity," and "Creating Career Opportunities for Young Adults in the Automobile Industry." Both of these giving areas support Nissan's goal of using our resources to maximize our brand, reputation, and impact on the community.

"Since its incorporation in the U.S. over 40 years ago, NNA has demonstrated a strong commitment in taking an active role in its local communities," added Morton. "The Nissan Foundation is part of a multi-million dollar annual investment in the U.S. that Nissan makes to hundreds of community organizations and programs across the country that reflect the diverse interests of both our employees and our customers. Nissan's investment in the communities in which it operates is exemplified through the work of the Nissan Foundation."

The first step to apply for a grant from the Nissan Foundation requires organizations meeting the Foundation's eligibility requirements to submit a "Letter of Intent" or LOI. LOIs are due to the Nissan Foundation by Friday, December 5, 2003. For more information about the Nissan Foundation and its application process, visit http://www.nissanusa.com/insideNissan/CorporateOutreach.

About the Nissan Foundation

Established in 1992, the mission of the Nissan Foundation is to build community through valuing cultural diversity and to create career potential for young adults in the automotive industry. The Nissan Foundation is part of Nissan North America's commitment to "enrich people's lives" by helping to meet the needs of communities throughout the United States through philanthropic investments, corporate outreach sponsorships, in-kind donations and other charitable contributions. More information on Nissan's community relations activities can be found online at www.nissanusa.com.

About Nissan North America

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.nissandriven.com or contact the corporate media line at 310-771-5631.