Nissan Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta confirmed earlier reports that Nissan will end development of new internal combustion engines in all major markets except the US. Speaking at Nissan’s shareholder meeting, Gupta assured investors that engine development will continue ‘where it makes sense.’ Tightening emissions regulations in Europe and beyond are driving the Japanese automaker to focus on electric vehicle development. Development of the next Nissan electric car is making headway following a decade of increasing competition. It’s not certain how long combustion engine development will continue in America. 

Fans of the Nissan Z Can Rest Assured

Mr. Gupta said that Nissan plans to continue development of combustion engines for the popular redesigned Z sports car and Rogue crossover, as well as any other popular gas-powered vehicles in the United States and select markets. Nissan’s electric car lineup remains limited through at least the next year, despite the major shift taking place in the engineering department.

Nissan is the first Japanese automaker to make such an announcement. Toyota has steadfastly continued down the hybrid powertrain path. Toyota’s first full-electric vehicle, the Toyota bZ4X, was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show and will hit showrooms later this year. The 2024 Honda Prologue is still over a year away. Nissan’s move harkens back to their pioneering leadership in EVs. Nissan electric cars were among the best-selling EVs for years. From 2011-2015, the Nissan Leaf was the best-selling EV in America. Until Tesla took the title in 2016, Nissan was the face of electrification. 

Europe Impacted First

Nissan has already ceased combustion engine development for the European market. Stringent emissions standards will get even tighter in 2025, effectively turning gas-powered cars into a financial risk for automakers. Policymakers worldwide are incentivizing electric vehicles in order to drastically reduce tailpipe emissions from the 1.4 billion motor vehicles in the world today.  

Nissan Electric Car Enthusiasts Welcome the 2023 Ariya

It took a decade for Nissan to come up with a companion for the popular Nissan Leaf electric car, but at last it’s here. The 2023 Nissan Ariya is a near-luxury electric crossover that’s coming to North America in 2022. The Ariya features a sleek design inspired by Japanese tradition inside and out. Range is expected to be on par with class leaders, coming in around 265 – 300 miles on a charge. Learn more about Nissan Ariya pricing, performance and trim options in our recent Nissan Ariya First Look.