Nissan is hastening its transition to electric vehicles, particularly in Europe, where emissions regulations are strictest, the company announced on Monday. Nissan Motor Co. stated in a statement that by fiscal 2026, 98% of its offerings in Europe will be electric or series-hybrid. This is an increase from the previous target of 75%. In Japan, the company aims to produce 58% of its model offerings, up from 55% previously.
A hybrid vehicle has both a gasoline engine and an electric motor, but a series hybrid uses the motor to power the wheels, or powertrain. The engine drives a generator that powers the motor. Parallel hybrids, such as Toyota Motor Corp.’s Prius, alternate between a gas engine and an electric motor.
Nissan Motor’s EV and series hybrid sales target for the United States remains at more than 40%.
In China, the target was reduced from 40% to 35%. This only applies to pure EVs, not hybrids. Nissan’s target figures exclude expected vehicle sales from alliance partners such as Renault SA of France and Mitsubishi Motors Corp., a smaller Japanese automaker. With its Leaf, which went on sale in 2010, the company was an early leader in electric vehicles. Since then, newcomers such as Tesla and Chinese automaker BYD have surpassed it.
According to Nissan officials, the company, based in Yokohama, has a wealth of knowledge about EV technology, particularly how consumers use the products and what kind of wear and tear develops on the battery, as well as other knowledge critical to the proliferation of green cars.
Nissan Motor Co. plans to launch 19 electric vehicle models by 2030, up from 15 previously. Nissan announced earlier this month that it will invest up to a 15% stake in Ampere, Renault’s European electric vehicle and software entity. Nissan and Renault have been collaborating on EV technology, with Nissan spearheading the development of a next-generation battery.
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