Nissan plans a million electrified vehicles annually

Nissan plans to launch increasing numbers of electrified vehicles, expand and evolve autonomous driving systems, and accelerate vehicle connectivity.

One target is to sell a million electrified vehicles a year by the 2022 financial year.

These will be either pure electric or models with e-Power powertrains as part of its Nissan M.O.V.E to 2022 midterm plan.

The company also intends to develop eight new pure electric vehicles – building on the new Nissan Leaf’s success, launch an electric car offensive in China under different brands, introduce an electric “kei” mini-vehicle in Japan and offer a global crossover EV inspired by the Nissan IMx Concept.

Plans include electrifying new Infiniti models from fiscal year 2021, equipping 20 models in 20 markets with autonomous driving technology, and reaching 100% connectivity for all new Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun cars sold in key markets by the end of the plan.

“Our product and technology strategy is dedicated to positioning Nissan to lead the automotive, technology and business evolution,” Nissan chief planning officer Philippe Klein says. “Our efforts are focused on delivering Nissan Intelligent Mobility, encompassing the three core elements of electrification, autonomous drive, connectivity and new mobility services.”

Speaking at a media briefing alongside senior vice presidents Takao Asami and Ogi Redzic, who lead the respective autonomous driving and connectivity projects at the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, Klein reaffirms that the midterm plan aims to boost annualised revenue by 30% to 16.5 trillion yen by the end of fiscal year 2022.

The company is also targeting an 8% core operating profit margin and cumulative free cash flow of 2.5 trillion yen.

Klein pledges to leverage the platform and powertrain assets of Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi to support the company’s goals.

Nissan expects electrified vehicles – including electric and e-Power models – will comprise 40% of the company’s sales in Japan and Europe by 2022 and 50% by 2025.

In the US, the expectation is about 20-30% by 2025, while in China it’s 35-40%.

“The Alliance Connected Cloud will allow for all of the alliance companies to integrate the data management of future, current and past connected vehicles – new models and those already on the road,” Redzic says.

“It will support infotainment services, as well as a single communication mechanism to facilitate updates over the air for all vehicles.”

Robo-vehicle ride-hailing services are provided for too.

Nissan tested its first robo-vehicle ride-hailing service “Easy Ride” with partner DeNA earlier this month.

By the early 2020s, Nissan aims to provide commercial services directly to customers.