Nissan says it will bring EV powertrain costs down by 30%, here’s what that entails
Nissan is doubling down on its new efforts to boost electric vehicle production. The automaker says under its new EV powertrain approach, development and manufacturing costs will be reduced by 30% by 2026.
Despite Nissan’s early lead in the pure battery electric vehicle market with the release of the LEAF in 2011, the Japanese automaker is now falling behind with automakers racing to develop EVs.
The Nissan LEAF was, at its prime, the best-selling all-electric vehicle in Europe in 2018 after an impressive run.
With a slew of new competitors entering the market since, the LEAF slipped out of the top 10 this past year as Tesla (Model Y and Model 3), Volkswagen (ID3 and ID4), Hyundai and Kia (Kona electric and Niro), and other models from Fiat, Skoda, Dacia, and Peugeot took market share.
Nissan began selling its second electric vehicle, the 2023 Ariya electric SUV, but it took over a decade since the LEAF was introduced.
The Ariya is the Japanese automaker’s first electric SUV with up to 304 miles range and an MSRP of $43,190 (for the base Engage FWD trim).
Recognizing the urgency, Nissan announced plans last month to accelerate its EV strategy “Ambition 2030,” initially introduced in 2021. The updated strategy includes releasing 19 new EVs by 2030, up from the 15 previously expected, and higher electric sales in key markets.
Nissan reveals “X-in-1” to reduce EV powertrain costs
To maximize its strategy and remain competitive going forward, Nissan unveiled a new EV powertrain approach Thursday that will result in a 30% reduction in development and manufacturing costs by 2026, according to the automaker.
Nissan says it has developed a 3-in-1 powertrain prototype consisting of the electric motor, inverter, and reducer, which it plans to use for its EVs.
By sharing and modularizing the prototype with its e-POWER hybrid vehicles, Nissan will be able to produce EVs and hybrids on the same line, which the automaker says will reduce manufacturing and development costs by 30% by 2026.
More importantly, Nissan is reducing the size and weight of the motor to improve performance and diminish noise and vibration. Interestingly, Nissan says it will develop a new electric motor that will trim its heavy rare earth element use to 1% or less of magnet weight.
Electrek’s Take
Although a 30% reduction in powertrain development and manufacturing costs may seem like a lot, it will likely only result in a minimal price decrease for Nissan’s EVs.
That being said, streamlining production is vital in reducing costs and expanding margins. Tesla has been touting this for years, and that’s why it’s achieving some of the industry’s highest margins.
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Environment
Baidu- and Geely-backed JiYue brand unveils ROBO X EV that goes 0-100 km/h in under 1.9 sec
JiYue, a Chinese EV brand focused on delivering all-electric “robocars” to the masses, has unveiled its latest model, and it’s quite a deviation from its previous EVs—but in the best way. Earlier today, JiYue launched the ROBO X supercar, designed for high-speed racing. By high speed, we mean 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 1.9 seconds. My mouth is watering.
JiYue has only existed since 2021, when parent tech company Baidu announced it was expanding from software development into physical EV production, joining forces with multinational automotive manufacturer Geely.
The new “robotic EV” marque initially launched as JIDU with $300 million in startup capital before garnering an additional $400 million in Series A funding, led by Baidu, in January 2022.
In August 2023, Geely took on a larger role in JIDU alongside a greater financial stake as the brand reimagined itself as JiYue, inheriting the JIDU logo and its flagship model, the 01 ROBOCAR.
In December 2023, Baidu and Geely unveiled a second model called the JiYue 07. It was born from JIDU’s ROBO-02 concept, which debuted in 2023 and was designed to compete against the Tesla Model 3 in China.
The 07 finally launched in China earlier this year with 545 miles of range. With an all-electric SUV and sedan on the market, JiYue has unveiled an exciting new entry in the form of a performance supercar called the ROBO X. Check it out:
JiYue’s new ROBO X EV is available for pre-order now
JiYue showcased its new ROBO X hypercar in front of the crowd at the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show earlier today. Similar to previous models but with a unique spin, JiYue described the ROBO X as an AI smart-driving supercar that, for the first time, blends artificial intelligence and autonomous driving into a high-performance, race-ready EV.
When we say “high performance,” we mean a quad motor liquid-cooled drive system that can propel the ROBO X from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in under 1.9 seconds. JiYue called the new ROBO X a “performance beast” with “the perfect balance of excellent aerodynamic performance and high downforce.” JiYue CEO Joe Xia was even bolder in his statements about the ROBO X:
For the next 20 years, the design of supercars will bear the shadow of Robo X. This is the best design in the history of Chinese automobiles today, and it is a landmark presence.
Fighter-style airflow ducts bolster the EV’s aerodynamics, efficiency, and overall posture. Per JiYue, the two-seater ROBO X is expected to deliver a maximum range of over 650 km (404 miles).
The new supercar features falcon-wing doors, a carbon fiber integrated frame, and a professional racing HALO safety system offering 360° of support. The interior features an AI smart cockpit with SIMO real-time feedback to give drivers an immersive racing experience.
Furthermore, JiYue said the vehicle will utilize parent company Baidu’s Apollo self-driving technology, which could make it the first electric supercar to apply pure-vision ADAS technology that enables track-level autonomous driving.
Following today’s unveiling of the ROBO X, JiYue has officially opened up pre-orders in China for RMB 49,999 ($6,915). That said, reservation holders will need to be patient as JiYue shared that it doesn’t expect to begin mass production of the ROBO X until 2027.
What do you think? Will people be talking about the ROBO X for the next 20 years?
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This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes the launch of the Lectric XPedition 2.0, Yamaha e-bikes pulling out of North America, LiveWire unveils an electric scooter concept, PNY readying its cargo e-scooters for pilot testing, Royal Enfield’s first electric motorcycle, and more.
The Wheel-E podcast returns every two weeks on Electrek’s YouTube channel, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.
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Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the Wheel-E podcast today:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 9:30 a.m. ET (or the video after 10:30 a.m. ET):
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Crude oil futures were on pace Friday for loss for the week, as a supply gut and a strong dollar depresses the market.
U.S. crude oil is down more than 2% this week, while Brent has shed nearly 2%.
Here are Friday’s energy prices:
- West Texas Intermediate December contract: $68.56 per barrel, down 14 cents, or 0.2%. Year to date, U.S. crude oil has shed about 4%.
- Brent January contract: $72.36 per barrel, down 20 cents, or 0.28%. Year to date, the global benchmark has lost nearly 6%.
- RBOB Gasoline December contract: $1.99 per gallon, up 0.46%. Year to date, gasoline has fallen more than 1%.
- Natural Gas December contract: $2.70 per thousand cubic feet, down 2.98%. Year to date, gas has gained more than 4%.
The International Energy Agency has forecast a surplus of more than 1 million barrels per day in 2025 on robust production in the U.S. OPEC revised down its demand forecast for the fourth consecutive month as demand in China remains soft.
A strong dollar also hangs over the market, as the greenback has surged in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s election victory.
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