Nissan plans to flood the Chinese market with EVs. The next model to head to market could be the newly unveiled Nissan Arizon.
Until the Shanghai Auto Show, the public had not seen the Arizon. Very few on this side of the globe had heard about this new EV. Showing it off at this show is fitting because of the recent announcement that Nissan would offer a stronger push for EVs going forward. This new electric SUV concept is made to fill many needs of anyone in the country.
Nissan was on a roll
Turn the clocks back a little more than a decade, and it looked like Nissan would become the world leader in electric vehicles. The Nissan LEAF arrived in 2010 and became one of the very first mass-market EVs to ever hit the roads. Unfortunately, the second EV took the brand more than a decade to bring it to market. While the LEAF is still one of the top-selling EVs in the world, its recently been surpassed by other models and brands. Nissan has fallen behind Tesla, GM, Hyundai, Ford, and Volkswagen in the EV development race. Can they grab a foothold in the Chinese market?
What is the second Nissan EV to arrive?
The latest mass-market Nissan EV to head to auto markets is the Ariya. This new Nissan electric SUV offers plenty of driving range for owners that choose the larger battery pack, and it comes at a relatively affordable price. Other than the LEAF, the Ariya is the first Nissan EV, and it rides on its own platform, which gives it plenty of room in the cabin and a futuristic style. Could the new Nissan Arizon share some qualities with the Ariya? It’s certainly possible.
The Nissan EV strategy
Nissan has set a goal of releasing 19 new fully electric vehicles by 2030, which is four more than the previously announced plan. The Chinese market is the perfect place for Nissan to increase its EV presence. China has steadily increased the number of EVs being sold to ensure they improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the country. If Nissan wants to compete with domestic brands in China, more than two EVs must be offered to fill many needs. The new Arizon could be just the beginning of what we’ll see with these new Nissan EVs.
As part of the movement forward with electric vehicles, Nissan created the Nissan’s Ambition 2030 strategy, which calls for a full slate of new EVs and up to 55% electrification in the sales mix by 2030 in China. Can Nissan achieve this new goal?
The Arizon wasn’t the only electric concept at the show
Nissan showed up at the Shanghai Auto Show with a pair of new electric concepts. The first was the Max-Out EV, which was first displayed in February during the Nissan Futures event. Most in attendance had already seen this electric concept, but that didn’t stop them from gawking at the cool convertible sports car.
The next concept to come to the stage was the Nissan Arizon. This new model that hadn’t been seen before is being called a “multifunctional partner” to give drivers in China a new experience. The Arizon features a futuristic exterior look with bold lines, shapes, and panels to show the world what the future could be. This new model rides on the CMF-EV platform, which is made to support several EVs.
What makes this platform right for the Arizon?
The CMF-EV platform provides a low center of gravity and brings a spacious, open-air interior to the vehicle. Toss in a high-tech interior, adjustable ambient lighting, and an auto-dimming glass roof, and you’ve got a pretty cool vehicle.
This new electric concept includes a virtual personal assistant that can provide accurate data and interact with passengers while driving. This brings a higher level of connectivity and integration into the vehicle.
How will Nissan develop the new Arizon concept?
The new Arizon concept looks like a concept vehicle that doesn’t have what it takes to head to the production line. We can easily be impressed with concept vehicles, but most of them lose something between the first showing and the final, approved model.
Will Nissan build the Arizon for the Chinese market? Could this new small vehicle make it to the United States as well? This new concept does what most concepts do; it took our imagination and replaced it with a lot of unanswered questions.
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