If Nissan is one of the brands that very quickly focused on electric, it has since fallen far behind the competition. Things should finally change with a host of new zero-emission products expected shortly.
The context is particularly difficult for Nissan, to the point that some are talking about an imminent disappearance. The vice-president responsible for the AMIEO region (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania) Arnaud Charpentier with whom we spoke recently confirmed that numerous job cuts were indeed planned (around 9,000) but shown to be reassuring.
“There is a real plan which is reasoned and which gives priority to one thing: the product”.
While specifying that investments have not been cut on this very specific point.
Struggling with electric cars
The important thing to remember here is that the situation is a little better in Europe. And if the manufacturer limits the damage in this area (+2.9%), it is thanks to sure values like the Qashqai or the Juke, which are still performing just as well. Where the problem lies is when we look at the electric range. This may seem surprising given that the Japanese brand was one of the very first to believe in electric, but today it is largely behind in this technology. With a Leaf at the end of its life and an Ariya whose sales have been penalized by multiple factors (absence of bonuses in France and prices that are too high in general, the semiconductor crisis which disrupted its commercial launch), it is impossible to do miracles.
Nissan intends to return to the race, and not just a little, in 2025 with many new electric products (there will only be electric in 2025, but thermal technology has not said its last word, we will come back). In order as follows, here is what awaits us next year.
The return of the Nissan Micra
The first of these 100% electric Nissans will be nothing other than the technical cousin of the Renault 5. This is not a surprise because a concept was presented towards the end of 2023 but Nissan will relaunch the Micra. The 20-23 showcar designed by the Japanese brand’s European design teams located in London showed this model. And if the name Micra has never been used in the manufacturer’s communication, the resemblance with the city car launched in the 2000s was striking enough for a link to be established with this model.
-Many similarities with the electric Renault 5
And then, recently, an official document leaked revealing both his name and his final appearance. The production Micra will be much wiser than the concept from which it derives. The front part will be redesigned to adopt the stylistic codes of the third Micra of the name, most appreciated for its rounded look. For the rest, however, the similarities with the R5 will be numerous, starting with a structure repeated in every point, which will be particularly visible in profile. At the rear, we should find large round headlights like at the front as well as the name of the brand in full as on the concept.
Made in France, therefore eligible for the ecological bonus
This Micra will be assembled in France, alongside the R5. It is therefore the assurance for her to be eligible for the bonus. Which will be a significant plus in our territory. The supply of engines and batteries should probably be resumed almost as is. Looking at the 2023 concept, we can even imagine a sporty variant derived from the Alpine A290, which would allow Nissan to attach the Nismo badge to it. Presentation imminent.
Finally a replacement for the Nissan Leaf!
The second vehicle that the Asian manufacturer will present in the coming months will be the replacement for the Leaf. Will it use the same name? Not sure because the metamorphosis will be total. Nothing to do with the compact C segment sedan competing with the Renault Megane and Peugeot e-308, the newcomer will be a crossover which will evolve halfway between the B and C segments. Which gives hope for reasonable dimensions… like the Megane no doubt.
The same platform as the Renault Mégane
It will be close to the Chill-Out concept unveiled in 2021. Its platform should be the same as that on which the Megane and Ariya are based. The characteristics would thus be very close. It is certain, it will be manufactured in the Sunderland factory, in the United Kingdom, like the Leaf. It is therefore almost certain to have a model eligible for the bonus in France.
An electric equivalent to the Nissan Juke
The last novelty expected in the coming months is the production version of the Hyper Punk concept seen at the Tokyo Motor Show in early 2023. Unfortunately, we know very little about this model. It will be the 100% electric equivalent of the Juke.
It’s safe to say that it shouldn’t be as stylistically eccentric as the showcar, but that’s about it. We can imagine that it uses the same CMF-B EV platform as the Renault 5, 4 and Micra. Here too, however, we can certify that it will be assembled in the same factory as the Leaf’s replacement, in England.
