CEO Makoto Uchida confirms that the brand is working on an affordable global EV with India a part of the plan.
Nissan is readying an affordable, A-segment EV for the global markets, and, as we’ve reported earlier, the brand has confirmed that the project is on track and India is a part of the plan. Nissan Motor Corporation CEO, Makoto Uchida says that the company is working on a “global affordable EV” and India is a part of the future plan.
Nissan EV for India will be cost competitive
On the sidelines of the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, Uchida says that the pace of electrification globally is gathering pace, and Nissan is therefore “transforming itself” to participate in this shift.
“We are working on an affordable A segment EV for the future and have a lot of plans. I do understand that the Chinese are coming up very strongly on EV, and as a pioneer we are prepared and are getting ready to show our capabilities in the affordable end of the market. We are working on our cost competitiveness and we will introduce an EV that will be acceptable [to a larger segment of buyers],” added Uchida.
Nissan has globally sold over 1 million electric vehicles and even at the Japan Mobility Show, the company premiered five different EV concepts – the highest by the company in any motor show. Nissan, along with its alliance partner Renault, had earlier this year announced plans to invest $660 million in the country, which will go into C segment EVs and A segment EV.
Francois Bailly, SVP and chief planning officer for the AMIEO (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania) region told our sister publication Autocar Professional that the company is planning to go “all-in” on the EV segment in India, explaining that the approach will be to look at a skateboard all-electric platform as against the ICE derived or multi-powertrain vehicle platforms for its EV foray, something that Tata Motors has successfully implemented.
Will there be a Magnite EV?
When queried if the company is exploring a Magnite EV, Bailly said, “Our approach is either all-in or don’t enter. We have decided to go all-in for EVs, as we are confident of a strong growth for EVs in India.” With regards to localisation of cells and batteries, he said that the company is currently studying the potential to localise in order to ensure that the vehicle is cost competitive and affordable.
Bailly says India is in the “top 3 markets globally” with a TIV (Total Industry Volume) of about 4 million, and it is amongst the fastest growing markets in the world. It is also one amongst a few markets, “which is still growing, has a potential to not only cater to the domestic market but also export globally,” he added.
And he hinted that A segment EV is just the start, and in the future, the company may look to bring more vehicles to different segments.
Nissan Ariya EV could come to India next year
To begin with, an imported Ariya EV for 2024 is being explored, but it is almost a given that the CMF-B platform on which its C-segment SUVs for India are planned is also likely to spawn out an EV in the future.
“The market for EVs in India is growing very fast and we expect the transition to happen strongly in the country. We want to be part of this transition and we will have a right alternative for the marketplace,” Bailly said.
Apart from the A-segment EV, Nissan is also readying a Micra EV concept for global markets.
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