Japanese automaker Nissan has announced that it would globally export electric vehicles (EVs) developed in China, as part of a deal with the country’s prestigious Tsinghua University. According to Reuters, the collaboration aims to leverage local resources and expedite research and development in the field of electrification.
Masashi Matsuyama, Vice President of Nissan Motor and President of Nissan China, revealed the company’s plans during a press conference in Beijing. He said:
“We are considering exporting our current internal combustion engine vehicles, as well as the upcoming pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars developed and manufactured in China to overseas markets.”
In addition, Matsuyama highlighted the company’s aspiration to target markets already tapped by Chinese competitors such as BYD. As part of a rising trend among foreign automakers, Nissan joins Tesla, BMW, and Ford in aiming to capitalize on China’s lower manufacturing costs by expanding exports of vehicles produced within the country. This action is in line with a larger industry effort to maximize industrial capacity utilization at the lowest possible cost.
Related: Nissan May Begin Exporting from China as Sales Nosedive
China continues to be a vital market for Nissan, even though it only made up slightly more than a fifth of the Japanese automaker’s global sales in the first 10 months of this year—a drop from one-third the year before. In the largest car market in the world, Japanese manufacturers face fierce competition from local brands and a swift transition to electric vehicles.
In response to the evolving market dynamics, Nissan has announced the establishment of a joint research center with Tsinghua University, scheduled to commence operations next year. This center will focus on comprehensive research and development of EVs, encompassing areas such as charging infrastructure and battery recycling.
Nissan’s President and CEO, Makoto Uchida, while expressing optimism about the collaboration, said:
“We hope that this collaboration will help us gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese market and develop strategies that better meet the needs of customers in China.”
The upcoming research center is an expansion of Nissan’s current partnership with Tsinghua University, which was established in 2016. The prior cooperative projects focused on autonomous driving and intelligent transportation.
Source: WION
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