The Dongfeng Nissan joint venture has unveiled the NX8, a new mid-sized sport utility vehicle that will be offered in China as both a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), as the automaker broadens its electrified lineup in the world’s largest car market.
The NX8 is positioned as a sister model to the N7 electric sedan introduced last year and shares its wheelbase of 2.92 metres. Measuring 4.87 metres in length, 1.92 metres in width and 1.68 metres in height, the five-seat SUV adopts a design language tailored to Chinese consumers and distinct from Nissan’s global models. Dongfeng Nissan’s recent vehicles closely follow the styling approach of Dongfeng’s own 007 sedan, underscoring the localised development strategy of the joint venture.
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Technically, the NX8 departs from its sedan counterparts. The battery-electric version is built on an 800-volt architecture and uses next-generation lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells supplied by CATL, supporting 5C ultra-fast charging. The BEV variant is offered with a single electric motor producing either 215 kW or 250 kW, exceeding the output levels available on the related N7 and 007 saloons.
Dongfeng Nissan has not yet disclosed the battery’s energy capacity. Regulatory filings in China require automakers to state battery chemistry and supplier, but not size. The NX8 will be offered with CLTC-rated driving ranges of 565 km, 580 km and 650 km, suggesting multiple battery configurations depending on drivetrain output.
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The use of CATL’s 5C technology indicates a theoretical full charge time of around 12 minutes under optimal conditions, as a 5C rate allows charging at five times the battery’s capacity in kilowatts.
Further details, including charging performance, battery specifications and pricing, are expected to be released in the first half of the year. Industry observers note the technological significance of the model in China’s competitive new-energy vehicle segment. As the automotive news portal CarNewsChina reported, “the NX8 is the first NEV SUV from a foreign brand” to combine an 800-volt high-voltage platform with 5C ultra-fast charging, although the underlying platform and battery technology are supplied by Dongfeng and CATL.