RIO DE JANEIRO – A leading canoe star in Brazil, paracanoeing athlete Caio Ribeiro, recently visited Nissan's Industrial Complex in Resende, Rio de Janeiro. Ribeiro is an automotive enthusiast; he owned a Nissan Frontier and now proudly drives a Nissan Kicks. This was his first-ever visit to a car plant. The athlete, who won a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and the silver medal at the 2017 World Championship, toured the production line where Kicks is assembled.
During his tour of the plant – where Nissan manufactures Kicks, March and Versa – Ribeiro had some fun with automated guided vehicles. With his paddle, he "canoed" using an AGV (robot) and was impressed with the plant's technology and use of portable robots. Caio also met plant employees and Nissan Institute volunteers.
"Everything here is amazingly organized," said Caio. "I felt as if I were on a sci-fi movie. It's amazing to see the relation between robots and humans. Robots are able to put the right thing in the right place and contribute to minimize production errors. They even have collision avoidance sensors, which make them safe work advisors."
Caio, who grabbed half of Brazil's medals at last month's Canoe World Championship, identified similarities between the preparation of athletes and plant workers.
"Their work require a high level of concentration," said Ribeiro. "Everything must be made with attention to detail to deliver premium quality products. Operators must be as focused as athletes on what they do, because the slightest loss of attention can turn into a costly mistake."
Caio is one of Nissan Team 2.0 members, a group of 12 brand ambassadors that includes mentor and sports legend Clodoaldo Silva, who has won 14 medals in Paralympic Games. As part of the brand's sponsorship program, every Nissan Team member was given a Nissan Kicks. Nissan's global crossover was first introduced in Brazil and has become a sales success in the domestic market thanks to its innovative equipment and design. Made in Brazil since April, the Kicks spearheads Nissan's Intelligent Mobility vision, a framework to move customers around the world toward a safer, smarter and more pleasant future.
Contact
Michael Figueredo
Corporate Communications
Nissan Brazil
+55 21 2134-9210
michael.figueredo@nissan.com.br
Ana Genaro
Corporate Communications
Nissan Brazil
+55 21 2134-9194
ana.genaro@nissan.com.br
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