Nissan pressing ahead with BEVs for Europe

NISSAN has this week confirmed that every new model produced for Europe will be electric from this point on – despite recent news that the UK is looking to overturn its proposed ban on ICE-powered vehicles by the end of the decade.

Nissan said that while many countries continue to debate the date for when internal combustion engine sales will be banned, it is “pressing ahead with plans to achieve 100 per cent EV in Europe by 2030”.

The Japanese manufacturer says it holds the capability to design, engineer and manufacture vehicles in the UK, and that building on its strengths of electrification and SUVs will help support the company’s broader goal of becoming carbon neutral by the middle of the century.

“EV is the ultimate mobility solution,” said Nissan president and CEO, Makoto Uchida.

“More than a million customers have already joined our journey and experienced the fun of a Nissan electric vehicle, and there is no turning back now.

“EVs powered by renewables are key to us achieving carbon neutrality, which is central to our Ambition 2030 vision. Nissan will make the switch to full electric by 2030 in Europe (as) we believe it is the right thing to do for our business, our customers, and the planet.”

Following the comments, Mr Uchida unveiled Nissan’s latest autonomous drive research study dubbed Concept 20-23. The sporty, urban-sized EV concept celebrating the 20^th anniversary of Nissan’s Paddington design studio, Nissan Design Europe.

Meanwhile, at the nearby Nissan Technical Centre Europe, where the Nissan research and development team this year marks its 35^th anniversary, the UK’s latest real-world autonomous driving study, called evolvAD, is taking place with a focus on residential and rural roads, supported by the UK government.

According to Nissan, an investment program of more than €40 million ($A65.5m) is ongoing across both sites, supporting activities including the upgrade of building facilities, design tools, resources and additional staff, and of new technology and facilities with more then €26m ($A42.9m) invested in electrification projects alone.

Globally, under Nissan Ambition 2030, the brand is set to introduce 27 electrified vehicles – including 19 full BEVs – by the end of the decade. In this period, Nissan is also set to introduce cobalt-free battery technology it says will bring down EV battery costs by 65 per cent by FY2028.

The manufacturer also aims to launch an EV with solid state batteries by FY2028, enabling it to “expand its EV offerings across segments and offer more dynamic performance”.

Nissan says its all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) will make EVs more efficient and accessible, estimating a price point of $75 per kWh by FY2028, with the aim of further reducing that number to $65/kWh “to achieve cost parity between EV and petrol vehicles in the future”.

The manufacturer has already confirmed two BEVs for Europe, including an all-new compact EV which will succeed the Micra light hatch and another as yet undetailed model being produced under the codename EV36Zero.

Nissan AMIEO regional chairperson, Guillaume Cartier, notes that the European car market is already moving rapidly toward an electric future with sales of electric and electrified vehicles rising from five per cent (as a total market share) in 2018 to 44 per cent at the end of 2022.

As of today, Nissan Europe’s EV mix is listed at 16 per cent of all new vehicles sold, part of a total electrified sales mix of 50 per cent.

To date, a third of the million-plus EVs sold around the world have been in Europe, with the Nissan Ariya and Townstar just two of the latest models to hit the market. Since 2022, Nissan’s European range has been 100 per cent electrified, including the available-in-Australia X-Trail e-Power and soon-to-launch Qashqai e-Power.

“As Europe accelerates towards EV, Nissan will continue to deliver the striking crossover design and driving excitement that our customers love,” said Mr Cartier.

“With breakthroughs in battery technology, electric vehicles will become even more accessible, and Nissan will continue to champion EV as the best way to provide cleaner, simple and more affordable mobility.”