Nissan, Dongfeng Motor joint venture committed to electric future

Nissan and its Chinese joint venture Dongfeng Motor, known as DFL, will offer more than 20 electric models over the next five years - both zero-emission and e-POWER - as part of a commitment to sustainable development in China.

The electric models will carry the four marques of Dongfeng, Nissan, Infiniti and Venucia, and six of the latest electric models will launch in the market this year or next.

"It speaks of Nissan and DFL's ambitions to become China's electric vehicle market leaders by 2022. We are very confident," Jose Munoz, Nissan Motor's chief performance officer and chairman of the company's management committee for China, told China Daily.

"China will become the No 1 market for Nissan, definitely, no doubt. It's not only because the Chinese market is growing fast, but also because of our good partnership and strong leadership in the country," he said.

Embodying Nissan's confidence, its first fully electric car tailored for the Chinese market debuted at Auto China 2018 in Beijing, while three zero-emission vehicles took center stage to showcase the company's vision for an electrified future.

Nissan SYLPHY Zero Emission - the brand's first electric car produced in China for Chinese consumers - is expected to bring together the Nissan SYLPHY's reputation for durability, quality, reliability and value with a proven, fully electric drivetrain.

The electric car offers the exciting performance of a 100 percent electric powertrain, including locally procured battery cells. Its advanced technologies and spacious cabin offer convenience and comfort.

The SYLPHY Zero Emission features fast-charging capabilities, and customers will be able to enjoy an extended drive range of 338 kilometers in comprehensive situations, according to Chinese regulatory standards.

The car includes Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies such as Lane Departure Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Blind Spot Warning. It will go on sale later in 2018.

As Nissan's first mass-production electric car in China, the Nissan SYLPHY Zero Emission shares a platform and technologies with the Nissan LEAF.

The new Nissan LEAF is the company's all-time bestselling electric car, with more than 320,000 sold worldwide since 2010.

In fact, the LEAF is the best-selling electric car globally.

Named 2018 World Green Car at the 2018 New York International Auto Show, it was also showcased at the Beijing auto show.

Nissan is exploring the possibility of introducing the new Nissan LEAF to China by the end of this year. It is one of the 20 electric models the company plans to introduce in China over the next five years.

The company said it believes the new Nissan LEAF is the standard-bearer for Nissan Intelligent Mobility, a vision of electrification, autonomous driving and intelligent connectivity brought to the Chinese market this year.

Nissan Intelligent Mobility is guiding the company's development in changing how vehicles are powered, driven and integrated into society.

A glimpse into the future of Nissan Intelligent Mobility was offered at the auto show by the Nissan IMx KURO, an electric crossover concept vehicle.

The car's advanced features include Nissan's exclusive Brain-to-Vehicle technology, which intercepts and analyzes the driver's brain waves to improve reaction times and increase driving comfort.

Also on display was Nissan's proprietary e-Power electric powertrain technology, which won a prestigious Japanese environmental award for its contribution to reducing CO2 emissions. The technology will be introduced in China within the next few years.

Munoz said: "The e-Power technology, as a part of our Nissan Intelligent Mobility, has received high praise when deployed in earlier models. Dealers are longing for e-Power to enter the Chinese market and we have faith in its future in the country."

The all-new Nissan Terra frame-based SUV showed Nissan's range at Auto China 2018.

The Terra builds on Nissan's strong SUV heritage and combines it with the expertise of the company's frame and light commercial vehicle division.

Featuring modern design and a roomy, comfortable cabin, the Nissan Terra is a tough, practical vehicle on or off the road. It's a key product in Nissan's midterm business plan, Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022.

"We are expecting China's annual sales volume to reach 2.6 million vehicles by 2022 across the four brands - Dongfeng, Nissan, Infiniti and Venucia," Munoz said.

Nissan Motor and Dongfeng Motor are carrying on their TRIPLE ONE mid-term plan, aiming to boost annual sales volumes by 1 million vehicles, and become a No 1 intelligent mobility company.

Dongfeng Motor maintained speedy sales growth for each brand in the first quarter of this year, after registering 1.5 million sales in 2017, according to company data.

haoyan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/07/2018 page19)