Photo: Nissan
Modern-era Nissan is pretty curious when you think about it. From the financial slump of the Lost Decade to worldwide acclaim with the leadership of Carlos Ghosn and Renault’s help, the Japanese automaker tends to alternate between profitability and disaster.
At the present moment, Nissan is pretty close to the edge of the cliff. About 12,500 jobs were lost not that long ago over a 99-percent earnings plunge, representing a tenth of the company’s workforce. Sales figures aren’t looking well either, and they’re on a downward spiral because of two reasons.
First and foremost, years of incentives have eroded profit margins. Secondly, the current lineup is very disappointing when compared to direct rivals. Take, for instance, the Leaf. Once the undisputed leader of EVs, the compact hatchback is obviously worse than similarly-sized competitors from legacy automakers. The Hyundai Kona and VW ID.3 come to mind.
The soon-to-arrive Ariya marks a new chapter for the Yokohama-based company, which believes that electrification is the way out of this pinch. “Our offering in electrified vehicles will continue to expand around the world,” said head honcho Makoto Uchida. “We will continue to drive innovation that enriches people's lives as we pursue sustainability for all.”
As the headline implies, Nissan intends to electrify all models in the lineup by the early 2030s in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. One way the Japanese automaker plans to electrify everything is battery development in the guise of lower costs per kWh and solid-state technology.
More energy-efficient powertrains are in the pipeline as well, along with a battery ecosystem that will support on-site power generation for buildings with renewable energy sources. Last but certainly not least, Nissan has promised manufacturing innovations in the name of higher productivity.
Until further notice, the Leaf is the only EV offered by the Japanese brand stateside. Available from $31,620 excluding freight, the front-driven hatchback is priced a little higher than the MINI Cooper SE and the driving range isn’t on par with the slightly more expensive Hyundai Ioniq Electric.
First and foremost, years of incentives have eroded profit margins. Secondly, the current lineup is very disappointing when compared to direct rivals. Take, for instance, the Leaf. Once the undisputed leader of EVs, the compact hatchback is obviously worse than similarly-sized competitors from legacy automakers. The Hyundai Kona and VW ID.3 come to mind.
The soon-to-arrive Ariya marks a new chapter for the Yokohama-based company, which believes that electrification is the way out of this pinch. “Our offering in electrified vehicles will continue to expand around the world,” said head honcho Makoto Uchida. “We will continue to drive innovation that enriches people's lives as we pursue sustainability for all.”
As the headline implies, Nissan intends to electrify all models in the lineup by the early 2030s in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. One way the Japanese automaker plans to electrify everything is battery development in the guise of lower costs per kWh and solid-state technology.
More energy-efficient powertrains are in the pipeline as well, along with a battery ecosystem that will support on-site power generation for buildings with renewable energy sources. Last but certainly not least, Nissan has promised manufacturing innovations in the name of higher productivity.
Until further notice, the Leaf is the only EV offered by the Japanese brand stateside. Available from $31,620 excluding freight, the front-driven hatchback is priced a little higher than the MINI Cooper SE and the driving range isn’t on par with the slightly more expensive Hyundai Ioniq Electric.
Google News