It is noteworthy that it for the first time in the 47-year history of the annual competition that the award has gone to an EV, ousting rivals from brands such as Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Dacia, Ford, Opel/Vauxhall and Volvo. The jury comprised an eminent panel of 57 top motoring journalists from 23 European countries. In another new beginning, Nissan Motor Co Ltd recently commenced deliveries of the Leaf to a select customers belonging to the Kanagawa Prefectural Government in Japan. Of the 10 units delivered, six would be designated for official prefecture use and four would serve as rental cars to be used in the prefecture’s ‘EV Sharing Model Business’.