Nissan's Affordable Chinese Electric Vehicles Are Set to Go Worldwide | Carscoops

      Selling affordable electric vehicles developed in China and in collaboration with a local partner in other markets may provide Nissan with some relief during these challenging times.

      Nissan and Dongfeng have set up a new company aimed at exports, fueled by an investment of 1 billion yuan.

      The N7 sedan is set to be shipped to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and potentially Europe.

      Nissan will likely need to create new software for these international versions due to regulatory requirements.

      Despite its ongoing financial struggles, Nissan has demonstrated that it can produce a competitive electric vehicle. The N7, a mid-size electric sedan designed for the Chinese market, illustrates this well; it is affordable, has an appealing design, and has been successful in sales—leading Nissan to consider exporting it to international markets, though the U.S. is not included.

      In late June, Nissan’s local partner, Dongfeng Motor Group, and Nissan China Investment Co. agreed to establish a new company dedicated to automobile exports. This new entity is backed by a registered capital of 1 billion yuan, with 60 percent contributed by Nissan and the rest by Dongfeng.

      Although Nissan has not confirmed specific export destinations, a report from China's Xhby indicates that the company plans to send the China-made N7, along with other electric models, to regions such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East starting next year. With the rising global interest in Chinese electric vehicles, Nissan might also consider launching the N7 in Europe or Australia, where demand remains high.

      While no additional models have been officially mentioned, speculation suggests that Nissan may also consider exporting the electrified Nissan Z9 or the Frontier Pro mid-size truck, which offers a plug-in hybrid option.

      However, simply shipping the current N7 overseas will not be straightforward. Nissan will need to adapt some of its software because it uses Chinese artificial intelligence, which some nations restrict. To resolve this, the company plans to develop a new software suite for international markets by partnering with local developer IAT Automobile Technology.

      The Nissan N7 is based on the Dongfeng eπ 007, and leveraging this existing vehicle has allowed Nissan to save millions of dollars compared to building a new car from the ground up. While the N7 may not be a fully original Nissan product, international consumers are likely to overlook this, as many may not even be aware of it.

      Mazda has adopted a similar strategy with the EZ-6, known as the 6e in Europe, which shares its platform with the Changan Nevo A07 and Deepal L07.