Nissan Motor has announced its plans to globally sell electric vehicles (EVs) developed in China, as part of a collaboration with the country's leading university to enhance research and development in electrification. The Japanese automaker is exploring the possibility of exporting its current lineup of internal combustion engine vehicles, along with forthcoming pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars manufactured and developed in China, to international markets. Masashi Matsuyama, Vice President of Nissan Motor and President of Nissan China, shared these insights in Beijing, mentioning that Nissan is considering targeting markets similar to those of Chinese competitors like BYD.
The company is set to join other international brands such as Tesla, BMW, and Ford in expanding the export of cars manufactured in China. This move aims to take advantage of the lower manufacturing costs in the country and boost the overall capacity utilization of their production facilities. China represented just over 20 percent of Nissan's global sales, totalling around 2.8 million vehicles in the first 10 months of the year, a decrease from the over one-third share during the same period last year. Japanese automakers have faced significant sales challenges in China, the world's largest auto market, in 2023. This is attributed to the growing popularity of domestic brands and intense price competition, particularly with the rapid adoption of electric vehicles.
Nissan has revealed plans to establish a collaborative research center with Tsinghua University in China next year, concentrating on the advancement of electric vehicles (EVs), encompassing charging infrastructure and battery recycling. Nissan's President and Chief Executive, Makoto Uchida, expressed the expectation that this partnership would enhance their understanding of the Chinese market and facilitate the development of strategies aligned with the preferences of Chinese customers. The initiation of this research center builds upon the joint research initiatives that Nissan and Tsinghua have been engaged in since 2016, primarily concentrating on intelligent mobility and autonomous driving technologies.