Nissan Motor, the Japanese automaker, announced on Sunday its plans to sell China-developed electric vehicles (EVs) globally, as it signed a partnership agreement with Tsinghua University, China's top university. The collaboration aims to leverage local resources to accelerate research and development (R&D) on electrification. Masashi Matsuyama, Vice President of Nissan Motor and President of Nissan China, stated that the company is considering exporting its lineup of existing internal combustion engine vehicles as well as upcoming pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars manufactured and developed in China to overseas markets. Matsuyama added that Nissan is eyeing the same markets as Chinese rivals, such as BYD.
By pursuing global sales of China-made vehicles, Nissan will join other foreign brands like Tesla, BMW, and Ford, which are expanding their exports from China to take advantage of lower manufacturing costs and increase the capacity utilization of their factories. This move aligns with China's efforts to become a leading producer and exporter of EVs, encouraging foreign automakers to tap into the market potential. Moreover, Nissan hopes to strengthen its foothold in the global EV market by capitalizing on its research and development collaborations in China.
This decision comes as Nissan has faced challenges in the Chinese market this year, with domestic brands gaining popularity and intense price competition due to the country's rapid shift towards electric mobility. In the first 10 months of this year, China accounted for just over a fifth of Nissan's global sales, a significant decrease from the previous year's figure of over a third. Therefore, expanding the availability of China-made EVs in global markets presents Nissan with an opportunity to revive its sales performance and meet the growing demand for electric vehicles.
As part of their strategic partnership, Nissan will establish a joint research center with Tsinghua University in 2021. The focus of the center will be on EV research and development, including areas such as charging infrastructure and battery recycling. This initiative builds upon the joint research efforts the two entities have been conducting since 2016, concentrating on intelligent mobility and autonomous driving technology.
Nissan's President and CEO, Makoto Uchida, expressed his hopes that the collaboration with Tsinghua University would help the company gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese market and develop strategies that better cater to customer needs. The partnership provides Nissan with an opportunity to tap into Tsinghua's research expertise and tap into China's vast market potential for EVs.
With China poised to dominate the global EV market, Nissan's decision to export China-developed EVs worldwide signifies a strategic move to boost sales and strengthen its foothold in this rapidly expanding sector. By partnering with Tsinghua University, Nissan aims to leverage local resources and expertise to develop competitive electric vehicles tailored to the Chinese market and beyond. Only time will tell if this strategy pays off for Nissan, but it undeniably highlights the significance of China's role in shaping the future of electric mobility.