Nissan unveils four new electric-car concepts

Nissan has pulled the covers off four new concept vehicles at the 2024 Beijing motor show after ramping up its plans for new electric and hybrid vehicles in China, the largest new-car market in the world.

Nissan presented two electric vehicles and a pair of plug-in hybrids – collectively referred to by the industry in China as ‘New Energy Vehicles’ – and said it will introduce an additional electric car in China, one more than previously announced, by 2026.

This means a total of five ‘New Energy Vehicles’ over the next 18 months.

It is designed to help reverse a slump in sales as Japanese manufacturers are increasingly outmaneuvered – and outnumbered in electric-car sales – by Chinese rivals which can develop new cars faster, and react quicker to changes in the market.

None of the showroom versions of the four vehicles are expected to be sold in Australia, although Nissan has said previously it will export vehicles made in China – the top exporter of new vehicles in the world – to other countries.

The Beijing show cars were headlined by the electric Nissan Epic Concept, described as a city-sized SUV with the ability to use its battery as a power source for external devices.

The second electric car revealed was the Nissan Epoch Concept small sedan, which features Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance its Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity.

The IoT is interconnected technology which can connect the vehicle to other cars (Vehicle-to-Vehicle, or V2V), as well as to other devices and networks – such as proposed ‘smart’ traffic lights.

Nissan claims the Epoch Concept can also ‘recognise emotions’ through AI technology.

The two plug-in hybrids included the Nissan Era Concept, similar in size to the Nissan X-Trail SUV and using dual-motor all-wheel-drive, as well as air suspension.

The fourth vehicle revealed is the Nissan Evo Concept, a plug-in hybrid sedan that also uses an AI virtual assistant for voice commands.

About 9.5 million hybrid and electric cars were sold in China in 2023, making up almost one-third of China’s 30.09 million new vehicle sales.

In 2024, sales of electric vehicles – excluding hybrids – have only increased and are estimated to reach a new record of 17 million, exceeding the 2023 total of 10.46 million.

China is expected to be the biggest consumer of electric vehicles until at least 2028, analysts predict.

While an early starter globally in bringing electric vehicles to market – the first Nissan Leaf electric hatch was introduced in 2010 before arriving in Australia in 2012 – Nissan sales have fallen behind rivals in China.

In 2023, the Japanese car maker suffered a significant 16.1 per cent decline in sales in China – a larger decrease than rival car maker Honda’s 10.1 per cent dip as the popularity of domestic brands increased. 

Nissan and Honda have formed a partnership to strengthen their sales results in China after Honda pulled out of a partnership with US car giant General Motors to develop cut-price electric vehicles.