Expo 2020 Dubai is joining forces with leading vehicle manufacturer, Nissan, to demonstrate and showcase the future of intelligent mobility starting with a fleet that includes electric vehicles.

The Japanese firm was revealed on Sunday as Expo 2020 Dubai’s latest Official Premier Partner at an event held at the Expo site, where Nissan also unveiled the second generation of its electric car, Nissan LEAF, for the first time in the Middle East.

As Expo 2020’s Official Automotive Partner, Nissan will provide the Expo 2020 fleet, including electric vehicles and next-generation cars featuring advanced technologies. Expo 2020 will be the first major organisation in the Middle East to use the Nissan LEAF, which is already the world’s best-selling electric car. Learnings from the partnership will help accelerate the electrification of mobility in the region. Nissan Intelligent Mobility technology will also be extensively showcased at the mega-event taking place in 2020.

The deal was signed by Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, and Kalyana Sivagnanam, President for the Middle East and Regional Vice President for Africa, Middle East and India at Nissan.

"World Expos celebrate human ingenuity. We are seeing that ingenuity making mobility more intelligent and more sustainable through electric vehicle technologies. Nissan is at the forefront of these exciting changes and we are delighted that they have become our Official Automotive Partner to collaborate with us in this area and to use Expo 2020 Dubai as a platform to show these transformative technologies to millions of people from around the world," Al Hashimy said.

Nissan has a successful track record in the delivery of large, complex global partnerships, having recent sponsorships with the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, UEFA Champions League and ICC Cricket World Cup.

The Expo 2020 fleet will total around 1,000 Nissan vehicles to support both the preparations for and delivery of the event. The vehicles will range from sedans and SUVs to pick-up trucks and buses. They will be used for a variety of purposes, including construction, VIP visits and transport for participants and organisers.

Nissan will also provide support for the fleet, such as maintenance, roadside assistance, insurance and Expo 2020 fleet branding.

"Nissan’s appointment as the Official Automotive Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai is a testament to our shared vision to shape the future of mobility and enhance the lives of people around the world through innovation. The long-term alliance also reflects our commitment to supporting the nation’s aspirations of being a global role model for innovative mobility. We are proud to have the opportunity to partner with Expo 2020 Dubai as we focus on revolutionising the mobility sector through our innovative and sustainable vehicle line-up.

"Furthermore, as sustainable transport continues to be a key goal within the UAE Vision 2021, Nissan is playing a leading role in advancing the development of this sector. The new, zero-emission Nissan LEAF embodies ‘Nissan Intelligent Mobility’, our approach to changing the way cars are driven, powered and integrated into society. Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility vision also ties into the UAE government’s ambition to reduce carbon emissions and promote the growth of electric vehicles across the nation," Sivagnanam said.