Nissan Motor has revealed plans to sell electric vehicles (EVs) developed in China on a global scale, forming a partnership with the country’s top university to accelerate research and development on electrification. Masashi Matsuyama, Nissan’s Vice President and President of Nissan China, stated that the company is exploring exporting its lineup of existing internal combustion engine vehicles and upcoming pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars manufactured and developed in China to international markets.
This move aligns with other global brands like Tesla, BMW, and Ford, which are expanding their exports of China-manufactured cars to leverage lower production costs and optimize factory capacity. Although China constituted just over a fifth of Nissan’s global sales in the first 10 months of the year, a decline from the previous year, the company aims to leverage the country’s market potential.
Japanese automakers have encountered sales challenges in China, primarily due to strong domestic brand competition and intense price competition, especially amidst the swift transition towards EVs.
Nissan’s strategy includes establishing a joint research center with Tsinghua University in China, focusing on EV research, charging infrastructure, and battery recycling. Nissan President and Chief Executive Makoto Uchida highlighted the collaboration’s goal to enhance market understanding and develop customer-centric strategies tailored to the Chinese market.