REPORT: Nissan has no plans to introduce gas-electric Toyota Prius/Honda Insight competitor
Nissan EV-02 - Click above for a high-res image gallery
As you read this, Japanese rivals Toyota and Honda are in the midst of a knock-down, drag-out fight for global hybrid supremacy with their two latest gas-electrics, the standard-bearing 2010 Prius and the revived-for-2010 Insight, respectively. Might Nissan, Japan's other major automaker, get involved in the fuel-saving games?
Not exactly. According to Senior Vice President Andy Palmer, Nissan would rather stick to fully electric vehicles and is content to let other automakers battle it out on the hybrid front, at least on the smaller end of the spectrum. As quoted in Automotive News, Palmer says: "We think it's a more persuasive technology... that's where we're directing our efforts. In the small cars, it's clear we're going to make the EV happen." Nissan does offer a hybrid version of its Altima sedan, but the technology is licensed from Toyota.
Nissan and corporate partner Renault have announced aggressive plans to launch small electric vehicles starting in 2010 and in a slew of countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Monaco, Ireland, Switzerland and China. According to Nissan's plan, these EVs will be priced to compete with mainstream vehicles like the company's own Altima and the Toyota Camry.
Gallery: Nissan EV
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mehdi Cheddadi 2:13PM (4/22/2009)
Every time I see this JDM spec cube I wonder why Nissan had to change the front end of the cube for the American market...
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Taglane 2:17PM (4/22/2009)
I know, right? This one looks so much better. I actually called it cute a few times.
While the US-spec cube is cute compared to maybe Maria Shriver or a Gargoyle.
ken 2:41PM (4/22/2009)
maybe because it's the previous gen cube.
Protzenegger 3:03PM (4/22/2009)
@ ken: +1
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Rich 3:48PM (4/22/2009)
Renault has been doing EVs for decades. Is the news aspect just that Datsun isn't going to develop anything interesting?
No news there then...
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jgp 4:34PM (4/22/2009)
Congrats to Nissan for not drinking the Kool-Aid.
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zamafir 6:29PM (4/22/2009)
well and they're bypassing it and going straight to electric anyways.
Cellien 4:40PM (4/22/2009)
I saw the new Insight and the the new Prius at the car show. Initially I thought the Prius looked nice from seeing pics online, but in person the Insight is much cooler looking, in a techy kinda way.
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brn 5:09PM (4/22/2009)
What kind of article is this? The major players in the hybrid game
are Toyota, Ford, and Honda. Nissan not doing something is news?
It's no more news than Chrysler, who is also going the EV route, not
making a Prius/Insight competitor.
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Gary Lowe 6:31PM (4/22/2009)
No surprise, like everything else Nissan will have a so so offering 5 years too late.
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