Nissan Motor has revealed its plans to sell electric vehicles (EVs) developed in China on a global scale. The company has partnered with a top Chinese university to accelerate research and development in the field of electrification. Masashi Matsuyama, Vice President of Nissan Motor and President of Nissan China, stated that the automaker is considering exporting its current lineup of internal combustion engine vehicles, as well as upcoming pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars manufactured in China, to overseas markets. Nissan aims to target the same markets as Chinese competitors like BYD. This move aligns Nissan with other foreign brands such as Tesla, BMW, and Ford, who are also expanding their exports of China-made cars to take advantage of lower manufacturing costs and increase factory capacity utilization.
China currently accounts for just over 20% of Nissan’s global sales, a decrease from over a third during the same period last year. Japanese automakers have faced challenges in the Chinese market due to the popularity of domestic brands and intense price competition, particularly in the rapidly growing EV sector. In addition to its sales plans, Nissan has announced the establishment of a joint research center with Tsinghua University in China. This center will focus on EV research and development, including charging infrastructure and battery recycling. The collaboration aims to gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese market and develop strategies that better cater to the needs of Chinese customers. This research center builds upon the joint research efforts between Nissan and Tsinghua University that began in 2016, focusing on intelligent mobility and autonomous driving technology.