Nissan accelerates NEV strategy in China

Nissan Motor launched its first plug-in hybrid pickup, the Frontier Pro PHEV, along with Dongfeng Nissan's all-electric N7 sedan at Auto Shanghai on Wednesday, highlighting its advancements in electrification and intelligent mobility, while outlining its strategy to accelerate local R&D and global expansion.

"By the summer of 2027, Nissan will increase the number of new energy vehicle models from eight to 10," said Stephen Ma, chairman of Nissan's management committee for China and president of Dongfeng Motor.

"Two of these models were unveiled at Auto Shanghai and will be available in China and exported to global markets in the future," he added.

Jointly developed by Zhengzhou Nissan's Chinese and Japanese teams, the Frontier Pro PHEV has an output of 410 horsepower and torque of 800 Newton meters, with a maximum pure electric range of 135 kilometers. It is also equipped with Level 2 driving assistance functions.

"The Frontier Pro PHEV breaks the traditional perception of pickups, driving Zhengzhou Nissan's transition toward off-road capability, electrification and internationalization," said Kevin Mao, executive deputy managing director of Zhengzhou Nissan.

The N7, Dongfeng Nissan's first locally developed electric vehicle, is designed for families and comes with features such as anti-motion sickness technology and driving assistance systems. As of Tuesday, advance orders for the model exceeded 5,000 units, with its official launch scheduled for Sunday.

In terms of intelligent mobility, Nissan is deepening partnerships with Chinese technology companies. These include the joint development of intelligent driving assistance systems and smart cockpit solutions with Huawei and Momenta.

"We have fully empowered our local R&D teams, reducing product development cycles to within 24 months, while maintaining Nissan's safety and quality standards," Ma said.

Regarding its export strategy, Nissan said that future models developed and produced in China will be designed with both domestic and international markets in mind, leveraging its global sales network. Specific export plans will be announced at a later time, said the company.

Nissan said it will continue to advance electrification and intelligent mobility, optimizing its product portfolio to include gasoline, all-electric, plug-in hybrid and range-extended power trains to meet diverse market demands.

The company has established a comprehensive R&D, production and sales system in China. It plans to work with local partners to introduce more models to global markets, supporting its long-term development goals in the new energy and intelligent mobility sectors.