According to a report, Nissan Motor announced on Sunday its intention to globally distribute electric vehicles (EVs) developed in China, as well as a collaboration with the country’s leading university to accelerate research and development in the field of electrification.
The Japanese automaker is considering exporting its current lineup of internal combustion engine vehicles to international markets, as well as upcoming pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles manufactured and designed in China.
This information was revealed to reporters in Beijing by Masashi Matsuyama, Vice President of Nissan Motor and President of Nissan China.
Nissan is targeting markets that Chinese competitors such as BYD are also targeting, indicating a strategic move to enter the global market for electric vehicles.
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This initiative aligns Nissan with other foreign automakers, including Tesla, BMW, and Ford, that are increasing exports of vehicles manufactured in China to leverage lower manufacturing costs and optimize factory capacity utilization.
While China accounted for just over 20% of Nissan’s global sales of approximately 2.8 million vehicles in the first ten months of the year, down from more than a third in the same period last year, the company is adapting to this challenge by exploring opportunities in the electric vehicle sector.
Nissan announced plans to establish a joint research center with Tsinghua University next year to strengthen its presence in China. The center will focus on electric vehicle research and development, including aspects such as charging infrastructure and battery recycling.
This collaboration builds on previous joint research initiatives with Tsinghua University, which focused on intelligent mobility and autonomous driving technology.
Makoto Uchida, Nissan’s President and CEO, expressed optimism about the collaboration, saying, “We hope that this collaboration will help us gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese market and develop strategies that better meet the needs of customers in China.” The move demonstrates Nissan’s commitment to expanding its presence in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle landscape, particularly in the influential Chinese market.
