Nissan Readies New EV, Crossover Models

Nissan Motor Co.’s plans to expand its electric vehicle lineup beyond the Leaf sedan likely will start with another volume-segment model rather than the sports car previously suggested by the company.

The most likely EV options in Europe are a B-segment hatchback and crossover/SUVs, says Gareth Dunsmore, who heads Nissan’s EV program for the region. He tells Auto Express. He says Nissan’s $5.4 billion investment in EVs must be supported with product that will attract “as many types of customers as possible.”

Nissan’s volume strategy also reflects a shift in likely EV customers from early adopters and fleets to families, Dunsmore says. Roel de Vries, Nissan’s executive vice president for product, declared previously that EVs will be a “large part” of Nissan’s future models.

Speculation about an electric sports car increased with spy shots of a working prototype of Nissan's 2013 Bladeglider concept model. And earlier this year, Nissan Senior Vice President Shiro Nakamura told Auto Express the company is developing a modular platform designed to support a range of conventional and all-electric models, including a sports car.

Nissan and alliance partner Renault SA have sold an industry-leading 350,000 EVs since the Leaf was launched six years ago. The Leaf accounts for two-thirds of the total. Nissan's only other electric today is the e-NV200 light commercial vehicle, which is offered in limited markets. Renault has sold more than 100,000 electric-only Zoe and Twizy small cars and electric variants of the Kangoo van and SM3 sedan.

In addition to the Bladglider, Nissan has shown several other electric concept vehicles in recent years. They include 2011’s Pivo 3 supermini, which media reports say could be revived to provide the basis for a production model. A future Nissan EV also could share a platform with the Zoe, and the next-generation Leaf platform could support a crossover model, analysts say.