Nissan and Dongfeng Create a Joint Export Project
Nissan, together with its Chinese partner Dongfeng, has established a new company for exporting cars. The enterprise’s capital is 1 billion yuan, of which 60% is owned by Nissan and the rest by Dongfeng. One of the first export models will be the N7 electric sedan, which is planned to be supplied to countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and possibly also Europe and Australia.
The N7, initially developed for the Chinese market, has an attractive design and an affordable price, which has ensured its popularity. However, for international markets, Nissan will have to adapt the car’s software, as the current version uses Chinese artificial intelligence technologies that are restricted in some countries. The company has already invested in developing a new software package for export versions.
The N7 is built on the Dongfeng eπ 007 platform, which allowed Nissan to save significantly on development from scratch.
Besides the N7, an electrified version of a mid-size pickup truck will likely also be sent for export. A similar strategy is already being used by Mazda with the EZ-6 model, which is based on a platform from Chinese counterparts.
This move indicates the growing competitiveness of Chinese electric vehicles on the global market. Although Nissan does not plan to supply the N7 to the USA, its appearance in other regions could significantly strengthen the brand’s position in the affordable electric car segment. Using ready-made platforms allows for a faster response to demand, despite the company’s financial difficulties.