Ghosn: Nissan To Market Electric Vehicles in the US by 2010
08 March 2008
Agence France-Presse has reported that Nissan will introduce an electric vehicle into the US market in 2010, followed by an expansion into additional markets in 2012. European EVs would be marketed under the Renault marque, with Nissan then focusing on Japan and China.
Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn revealed the company’s plans in informal remarks to journalists at the Geneva Auto Show. In recent years, Nissan has introduced two electric concept cars: the Pivo in 2005 (earlier post) and the Pivo 2 in 2007 (earlier post). In late 2006, Renault announced its intent to bring an electric vehicle to market by 2010 (earlier post), and Nissan pledged to do the same within three years (earlier post).
Ghosn cited California’s CO2 regulations for passenger vehicles as a driver of the decision.
Mister Goshn has put some water in his wine...his position has drastically shifted compared to 2 years ago when he was arguing that it was too early to consider HEV. Now is jumping straight to the EV shorcuting HEV and PHEV. Interesting indeed...I bet that he also has gotten more informed about peak oil letely, since we are moving from arrogant denial general attitude to serious worries on the short term.
Posted by: Treehugger | 08 March 2008 at 01:22 PM
This would be one kind of "flip flop" that I would welcome. If you say years ago that you are not going to do it and then years later that you are, it is better than the other way around. It is interesting how they pretend that they never said the first thing in the first place, but that is just a character flaw and not major denial.
Posted by: sjc | 08 March 2008 at 05:19 PM
The CEO of GM still doesn't believe in global warming and pushes advanced cars only because of oil import costs. You should check what all the CEO's of automobile companies have said about PHEV, HEV, and EV's over the last couple of years and why.
They are all typically conservative backward looking views, not interested in improving the efficiency at all. What did Douglas Adams say? - the first against the wall when the revolution came?
If Renault can do this and it lights a fire under the other company's then good for him for pushing progressive change. I'll believe it when I see it in production though.
Posted by: aym | 08 March 2008 at 06:50 PM
GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE ELECTRIC VEHICLES TAX FREE AND MAKE IT COMPULSORY FOR ALL AUTO COs TO MAKE ATLEAST 5% ELECTRIC CARS BY 2009 JAN. ENOUGH OG PROTOTYPES. PEOPLE ARECRAVING FOR ELECTRICAL VEHICLES.
Posted by: NIRMALKUMAR WALA | 08 March 2008 at 07:48 PM
If car companies are required by the government to make EV's they'll just make crappy ones to prove how stupid the legislation is. A carrot approach is better than a stick, but the Gov should be involved, you're right.
Posted by: Elliot | 08 March 2008 at 08:57 PM
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