If you've been concerned that Nissan's high-performance Nismo division might go fully electric, there's some reassuring news. In a recent interview, Pierre Loing, Nissan's global product chief, stated, "Nismo has no specific goal to go electric only." Loing shared with Top Gear magazine that the growth of electric vehicles has been erratic, and "our role as a manufacturer is to adapt." The company is concentrating on its E-Power powertrain, which employs the gasoline engine as a battery generator. Nissan introduced the Qashqai E-Power in 2022, marking the first model to feature this new setup, and any Nismo plans hinge on the specific model. More than half of the Qashqai's sold in Europe are equipped with E-Power.
Nissan understands that a car like the GT-R can command a significantly higher price for a Nismo variant compared to a model like the Ariya. Loing acknowledges that the Ariya isn't an inexpensive EV, so the price ceiling can't reach "an extremely high level," which ultimately depends on the model. A Nismo package must align with the product, and any expansion will require robust sales to justify its continuation. Automakers worldwide are reevaluating their electric vehicle strategies due to inconsistent growth. Many are scaling back their ambitious plans, delaying EV launches while bolstering their hybrid offerings. This reflects how rapidly consumer preferences can shift and how flexible automakers must be in response.
Loing noted that if you had asked him about the company's EV plans a few years ago, he would have "provided a different response." Hopefully, the coming years won't compel the automaker to establish a new timeline for fully electrifying the Nismo line.
