Nissan Motor (7201.T) announced on Sunday (December 17) its plans to globally distribute electric vehicles (EVs) developed in China, following a strategic agreement with a top Chinese university to bolster research and development efforts in electrification. Masashi Matsuyama,
Vice President of Nissan Motor and President of Nissan China, disclosed in Beijing that the company is contemplating exporting its range of existing internal combustion engine vehicles, as well as forthcoming pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars manufactured and developed in China, to international markets, targeting the same markets as Chinese rivals like BYD.
In a bid to tap into China’s lower manufacturing costs, Nissan joins other global brands such as Tesla (TSLA.O), BMW (BMWG.DE), and Ford (F.N) in expanding exports of cars manufactured in China. The move comes as China constituted just over a fifth of Nissan’s global sales of approximately 2.8 million vehicles in the first ten months of the year, a notable decrease from over a third during the same period last year. This shift is reflective of the challenges faced by Japanese automakers in China’s thriving auto market, marked by the popularity of domestic brands and fierce price competition amid a rapid transition to EVs.
To further its commitment to electric mobility, Nissan is set to establish a joint research center with China’s renowned Tsinghua University in the coming year. The center will focus on research and development related to EVs, encompassing charging infrastructure and battery recycling. Nissan President and Chief Executive Makoto Uchida expressed optimism about the collaboration, stating, “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.” This initiative builds upon the joint research endeavors between Nissan and Tsinghua since 2016, with a previous focus on intelligent mobility and autonomous driving technology.
