Nissan Motor Co announced on Monday that it will only sell electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe by 2030, as part of its global strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The Japanese carmaker also said that all new models it launches in Europe will be fully electric, starting from now.
Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida said in a statement that the company is committed to the transition to EVs, which he described as “the right thing to do for our business, our customers and for the planet”. He added: “There is no turning back now. Nissan will make the switch to full electric by 2030 in Europe.”
One of the two new EV models that Nissan has already confirmed for Europe will be produced at its Sunderland plant in northern England, which employs about 6,000 people. The plant is expected to become the largest EV factory in the UK, with a capacity of up to 400,000 vehicles per year.
Nissan has been a pioneer in the EV market, launching the first mass-market EV, the Leaf, in 2010. However, it has faced increasing competition from rivals such as Tesla, Volkswagen and Hyundai. Earlier this year, Nissan raised its targets for EV models, saying it would launch 19 new EV models by 2030.
Nissan’s new goal of going fully electric in Europe by 2030 aligns with its alliance partner Renault, which has the same ambition for its Renault brand. Other carmakers, such as Ford, Stellantis and Volvo, have also announced plans to sell only EVs in Europe by 2030.
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