NISSAN TO OFFER "DEPOWERED" AIRBAGS IN CANADIAN VEHICLES Japan's second largest automaker says it will soon launch a new generation of gentler-acting airbags in cars, trucks and vans built for the Canadian market. Nissan says it has been working to develop such airbags for some time and hopes to have them ready "soon". "We can't be more specific than that because final tests are yet to be completed, and there may be different engineering requirements for differing models," said a spokesman for Nissan Canada Inc. in Mississauga, Ont. Plans for the new airbags were announced by Nissan North America. The company also said it would like to see Washington relax its regulations to also permit gentler airbags in vehicles built for the United States market. Known as "depowered airbags" in auto industry jargon, the new-type airbags deploy less violently than those currently fitted to most makes of vehicle sold across North America. Nissan says it is also in the process of warning owners about the risks airbags pose when motorists and passengers fail to wear seatbelts, sit too close to airbag locations, or seat children in the front seat. The company says it has already, voluntarily: Installed airbag/childseat warning labels in all 1997 models. Mailed warning letters and vehicle labels to 85,000 owners across North America. Made plans to shortly include further airbag warnings in mailings to Nissan and Infiniti owners across Canada.