Nissan announces $1.4bn Chinese investment, two new vehicles

The Japanese motor company has committed 10bn Yuan to its Chinese operation, stating at the Shanghai auto show that it sees the country as the ideal market in which it can develop EVs. The company also unveiled its electric N7 sedan as well as a hybrid pickup truck, the Frontier Pro PHEV.

The investment will be made by the end of 2026, and will help the company develop 10 new cars in China – all of which will be exported. Stephen Ma, head of Nissan’s Chinese operations, told a press conference: “With China moving so fast, we want to stay and we want to compete[…] We can successfully thrive and compete here and so China has become a very good market for us to pilot many things.”

The move follows a difficult financial period for Nissan, which saw a major leadership reshuffle as well as a failed merger attempt with Honda. In November 2024, it announced cuts to 9000 jobs and a 20 per cent reduction in output capacity. The company is still undergoing a restructure, with Ivan Espinosa being appointed the new CEO back in March.

Meanwhile, the automaker also announced two new vehicles at Shanghai Auto: the new N7 electric sedan and the plug-in hybrid Frontier Pro pickup truck. The N7 is actually built in partnership with Chinese EV firm Dongfeng, with much of its technology coming from Dongfeng. For example, the N7 platform is based on the Dongfeng 007, from which it borrows its wheelbase and powertrain, and the interiors and body design are both from Nissan.

The N7 comes in two configurations – one with a 58kWh battery and a 510km range, and one with a 73 kWh battery featuring up to 635km of range. Both models use LFP batteries that support fast charging, as well as semi-automated driver assistance. It’s priced between 160,000 – 180,000 Yuan (approx. €19,180 – €21,500), with sales starting in China later this month.

Additionally, the Frontier Pro is Nissan’s first electrified pickup truck. This five seater pickup features a 1.5L ICE and a transmission-mounted electric motor delivering 300kW of power. Nissan states it is designed specifically for the Chinese domestic market and can provide up to 135km of battery-only range. Nissan states it also supports V2L technology as well as AWD. It’s set to go on sale before the end of 2025, and will eventually be exported to other countries.

nissannews.com, bloomberg.com