In a bold move to solidify its position in the global electric vehicle (EV) market, Nissan Motor announced its plan to sell China-developed electric vehicles worldwide. This strategic decision comes as the Japanese automaker secures a partnership with Tsinghua University, China’s premier institution, aiming to utilize local resources to expedite its electrification research and development.
Masashi Matsuyama, Vice President of Nissan Motor and President of Nissan China, revealed the company’s intentions to export a range of vehicles. This lineup includes existing internal combustion engine vehicles as well as upcoming pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars, all manufactured and developed in China. This initiative positions Nissan to potentially target markets currently dominated by Chinese rivals like BYD.
Nissan’s approach mirrors the tactics of other international players like Tesla, BMW, and Ford, who have been leveraging China’s lower manufacturing costs and optimizing their factory capacities through increased exports of China-made cars.
However, Nissan faces a challenging environment. The company’s sales in China, the world’s largest auto market, have dipped significantly, dropping to just over a fifth of its global sales, as compared to over a third in the previous year. This decline is attributed to the growing popularity of domestic brands and intense price competition, especially in the rapidly evolving EV sector.
To combat these challenges and gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese market, Nissan will establish a joint research center with Tsinghua University in the upcoming year. This center will focus on various aspects of EV technology, including charging infrastructure and battery recycling. This collaboration is not Nissan’s first with Tsinghua University, as they have previously worked together on intelligent mobility and autonomous driving technology since 2016.
With these strategic moves, Nissan aims to not only navigate the competitive Chinese market but also to strengthen its global presence in the EV industry.
