Nissan doubles down on EVs despite UK deadline shift

There was a strong reaction from the car industry following the government’s decision to push back the date for an end to petrol and diesel vehicle sales. OEMs including Ford were critical of the uncertainty sown by shifting the date, with Fork UK chair Lisa Brankin saying the decision undermined the “ambition, commitment and consistency” the car industry needed from government.

While Nissan has been less directly critical, the announcement that it is doubling down on the 2030 date for all European car sales casts further doubts over the wisdom of the UK government’s decision. The company employs around 6,000 people at its Sunderland manufacturing plant, where models including the Qashqai, Juke and the all-electric Leaf are built.  

According to Nissan, its Ambition 2030 programme will see 27 electrified vehicles - including 19 EVs - introduced by the end of the decade. The company said it also plans to introduce cobalt-free technology to bring down the cost of EV batteries by 65 per cent by fiscal year 2028. The same year will see Nissan looking to launch its first EV with all-solid-state batteries (ASSB), a technology the carmaker said should allow it to expand its EV portfolio across other segments.