Nissan has kicked off the preview week of the 2016 New York International Auto Show by looking into the future of mobility and discussing how emerging trends already are changing the way people get from place to place, especially in crowded urban environments.

The Japanese carmaker has revealed the Nissan New Mobility Concept (NNMC), an ultra-compact 100% electric vehicle that was developed in response to increasing use of automobiles for short-distance trips by up to two people.

With their tight 2336mm length, the NNMCs, which have Lamborghini-style scissor doors, have the potential to help reduce pollution and traffic congestion in the city. Parking is also a major benefit, with three NNMCs able to fit head-in into one parking space. Four NNMC concepts, which are based on the Renault Twizy, are currently being used for transport during the New York Auto Show which opens today.

"As large cities continue to grow into megacities globally, we need to better understand how transportation is changing and anticipate what transportation needs will look like in the future," said Rachel Nguyen, director, Nissan Future Lab. "With the fast-paced growth of smart technologies and the emergence of the sharing economy, we are studying how this size and package of electric vehicle fits in real life customer situations."

Nissan Future Lab was established in 2014 as an extension of Nissan's global advanced planning group and looks decades ahead to identify potential issues and opportunities for the business today and into the future. It looks beyond products and examines the future of mobility in a wider sense. The group is inspired by rapid developments in automotive technology such as electric, autonomous and connected vehicles and trends like ride sharing.

"Urbanisation and the growth of megacities – particularly in developing countries – is the biggest challenge facing the automotive industry," added Nguyen. "It's mind boggling to think there's only about 10 megacities now and in 20 years there will be 30. Mobility is a major driving force central to how these megacities will develop."

In October, Nissan Future Lab partnered with Scoot Networks, adding 10 NNMCs to Scoot's fleet in San Francisco, a city that has many of the same traffic and parking challenges as New York City. These test NNMCs (known there as Scoot Quads) rent for $6 for a half-hour use or $80 for a full day.