July 25, 2011 — The Nissan Leaf recently became the first all-electric vehicle to earn a five-star safety rating through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

The NHTSA rolled out tougher tests for 2011 models, making it more difficult for vehicles to earn five stars, according to a press release_notes from Nissan about the achievement. In addition, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the Leaf a Top Safety Pick.

“The Nissan LEAF is the first all-electric vehicle to achieve 5-stars overall for safety," said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Nissan North America Inc. "Not only is the LEAF the most innovative car on the planet, it is also one of the safest."

The Leaf offers an Advanced Air Bag System with multiple deployment locations, an upper and lower tether anchor for child seats, child safety rear door locks, a Traction Control System and myriad other safety features. For more information, go to nissanusa.com.