√Nissan makes electric-only switch in Europe, Australian plans unclear

Every new Nissan car launched in Europe from now on will be electric, with the Japanese brand beginning to phase out petrol and diesel models from its continental line-up.

Japanese car-maker Nissan has announced it will not launch any new petrol or diesel-powered cars in Europe, as it prepares to switch its entire model line-up on the continent to electric power by 2030.

However Australia is not expected to follow for the time being given a new Nissan Navara diesel ute – and a new Patrol petrol 4WD – are around the corner in the next 18 months.

Nissan is one of the few car-makers which is targeting to exclusively sell electric cars in Europe before the EU’s 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles without synthetic fuels comes into effect.

Following news the UK would delay its ban on new petrol and diesel car sales from 2030 to 2035, Nissan president and CEO Makoto Uchida claims there is “no turning back” from the switch to electric power.

“EV [electric vehicle] is the ultimate mobility solution. More than a million customers have already joined our journey and experienced the fun of a Nissan electric vehicle, and there is no turning back now,” Mr Uchida said in a media statement.

“Nissan will make the switch to full electric by 2030 in Europe – we believe it is the right thing to do for our business, our customers and for the planet.”

Drive has contacted Nissan Australia for confirmation about how soon the car-maker’s European plans will affect its local line-up.

While the Patrol SUV and Navara ute are the oldest models in Nissan’s Australian showrooms, both are expected to continue with petrol and diesel power respectively into their new generations.

However, the Nissan Juke will reportedly go electric in Europe by 2025 – likely for its next generation – becoming the Japanese marque’s first petrol-powered model to make the switch. The larger X-Trail and Qashqai are reportedly planned to follow.

Nissan’s 2030 deadline to switch to electric power in Europe brings it in line with French car-maker Renault, which has had an alliance with the Japanese brand since 1999 – with Mitsubishi subsequently joining the duo in 2016.

As previously reported, Nissan has confirmed its plans to launch at least three new electric cars in Europe before 2030, with at least one of the models – tipped to be a new-generation Leaf – to be built at Nissan’s Sunderland factory from 2026.

News agency Reuters reports the Nissan Leaf successor – expected to morph into an coupe-style SUV – will bypass a 10 per cent tariff on electric cars built in the UK and sold in Europe (or vice versa), as it will comply with the post-Brexit ‘rules of origin’ requirements.

The other two electric models are reported to be a performance sedan and another SUV, both utilising the CMF-EV electric-car platform which underpins the Nissan Ariya and Renault Megane E-Tech Electric.

Nissan has previously announced it plans to launch 15 electric cars by 2030, as well as eight new hybrid models.

In March 2023, Nissan claimed its electric cars will achieve ‘price parity’ with petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 – despite there currently being a disparity of approximately 50 per cent between the prices of its battery-powered and traditional petrol/diesel engine models.

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