Nissan remains steadfast in its decision to refrain from investing in new gas or diesel-powered engines as it moves towards an electric future.
Nissan Takes a Clear Stand as ICE Tech Evolves
While competitors like Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru have pledged to enhance the efficiency of their next-generation diesel internal combustion engines (ICE), Nissan remains steadfast in its pursuit of an all-electric future.
According to Electrek, Nissan, which previously outlined its ambition to transition entirely to electric vehicles in Europe by 2030, now confirms that it will not allocate funding for future ICE engine development.
Addressing the media at Nissan's Sunderland plant in the United Kingdom, Francois Bailly, the company's Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer for the AMIEO (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe, and Oceania) region, recently emphasized Nissan's commitment to electric vehicles.
Bailly underscored the significance of e-Power as a transitional measure towards this electrified future, noting that each market would progress at its own pace. He also clarified that Nissan has no plans to invest in new powertrains for internal combustion engines.
As Nissan prepares to release a series of upgraded electric vehicles (EVs), such as the next-generation LEAF EV, the company has announced revised business strategies to increase its EV sales significantly.
By 2030, Nissan aims for EVs to constitute 60% of its total sales. In the United States, Nissan plans to refresh 78% of its lineup with new e-POWER and PHEV models.
In Europe, the company is set to introduce six new EVs to achieve a 40% share of electric car sales by 2026. Nissan anticipates that forthcoming innovations will reduce the costs of its next-generation EVs by 30%.
Automaker Nissan is currently the subject of a recent cyberattack. Recent reports point out that hackers attacked its systems in New Zealand and Australia. (Photo : John Cameron from Unsplash)
Electric Evolution of Nissan: From LEAF to Ariya
Despite previously being hailed as a frontrunner in the EV revolution, Nissan has experienced a recent setback. Nissan introduced the LEAF back in 2010, hailed as the "world's first mass-produced electric car."
Initially a market leader, the LEAF faced stiff competition when Tesla's Model 3 took over the electric car scene in early 2020. Now, after more than a decade, Nissan has unveiled its latest addition to the EV market: the Nissan Ariya, marking its debut in the electric SUV segment.
While the Ariya faced a sluggish start, Nissan's "Intelligent Factory" has since smoothed out production processes. Unveiled at its Tochigi plant in 2021, the Intelligent Factory line aims to reduce costs and boost the output of EVs.
Ariya has stepped in to fill the gap as LEAF sales dwindle across major markets. By April 2024, Nissan had sold 5,640 Ariyas in the US, 5,187 in Europe, and an additional 601 in Japan.
While other Japanese automakers like Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru prioritize developing new internal combustion engines amid the industry's shift toward all-electric vehicles, Nissan diverges from this trajectory. By steadfastly focusing on EVs now, Nissan is positioning itself to enhance its competitiveness in the future.
