Nissan Sylphy Zero Emission China production starts

Nissan’s first electric sedan for China’s market has started rolling off the production line.

The Sylphy Zero Emission costs 166,000 yuan (NZ$36,350) after government subsidies and Nissan says it has a 338km range, The Associated Press reports.

The Sylphy’s price is reported to be about half that of a Nissan Leaf there.

Being built at the Guangzhou plant in China, the Sylphy Zero Emission is reportedly the first domestically-produced low-cost electric car made specifically for the Chinese market.

Nissan plans a range of EVs to appeal to customers in all market segments and expects the Sylphy Zero Emission to be a keystone in the EV market.

The Sylphy was previously sold globally as a petrol or diesel-powered model, mainly as the Bluebird Sylphy from late 2000 – particularly as a replacement in the Japanese market for the Nissan Pulsar.

Other car makers are planning to launch electric models designed just for China, starting later this year.

Government plans call for total annual sales of two million electric and gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles by 2020.

Sales quotas applying next year require every brand to sell electrics or buy credits from competitors that do, which could force automakers to create affordable models Chinese consumers want.