China EV war: Nissan to unveil more models, raise production, infuse AI in cars with Baidu tie-up in response to competition, CEO says

Nissan Motor unveiled four new electric vehicle (EV) models at China’s largest auto show and vowed to build more EV products “in China, for China” despite intense market competition and a price war that has sent its sales tumbling over the past three years.

Highlighting China as an important market, Japan’s third-largest carmaker by output plans to roll out eight new models for the local market by 2026 through its joint venture with Dongfeng Motor,” CEO Makoto Uchida said at Auto China Show in Beijing on Thursday.

“Consumer needs in China’s car industry have gone through rapid changes in recent years, and domestic players have shifted the competition landscape,” he said. “We need to react rapidly to stay competitive,” he added when discussing Nissan’s “The Arc” business plan with a live audience in the Chinese capital.

“This shows our commitment to China as we gear up to expand and accelerate our product offering in the market,” Uchida said.

Nissan unveiled two electric concept cars and two hybrids at the motor show. It vowed to update 73 per cent of its product line-up by 2026 by introducing more EV and hybrid cars. That is expected to underpin its attempt to grow its sales in China to more than the 1 million mark by then. They fell below that level for the first time in 14 years in February.