Japanese automaker Nissan is considering exporting vehicles produced through its Chinese joint venture with Dongfeng Motor to Canada, as the company evaluates opportunities created by rising demand for lower-cost electric vehicles in the North American market.
The potential move would expand the export footprint of Nissan’s China manufacturing operations beyond Latin America and into North America, according to a Bloomberg report published on Tuesday.
“The Canadian government has opened the door for some China-made products, and Nissan is currently studying this seriously,” Christian Meunier, Nissan’s head of the Americas, said in an interview.
Meunier did not identify which specific models could be exported to Canada, but pointed to the competitive advantages offered by Chinese production facilities, including lower manufacturing costs and faster vehicle development cycles.
Canada earlier this year removed restrictions on imports of China-made electric vehicles, allowing up to 49,000 units annually to enter the country. The policy has encouraged several automakers to evaluate the market, including Tesla, which has already begun supplying Canada with Model 3 sedans produced at its Shanghai factory.
Nissan Chief Executive Ivan Espinosa has been seeking to improve the company’s performance by accelerating product development and streamlining supply chain operations as competition in the global EV market intensifies.
According to the Bloomberg report, Nissan initially aims to export around 100,000 vehicles from China before eventually increasing shipments to 300,000 units annually through the addition of more new energy vehicle models.
The first models considered for export could include the N7 electric sedan and the Frontier Pro pickup truck, which are also expected to be introduced in Latin American markets as part of an initial rollout strategy.
Dongfeng Nissan recently introduced its new electrified “N series” lineup, which includes the all-electric N7 sedan and the NX8 flagship SUV.
The NX8, which marks Dongfeng Nissan’s first model to feature an extended-range powertrain option, received more than 8,400 orders within 30 minutes of its launch, supported by aggressive pricing measures.
Following limited-time incentives, the mid- to large-size SUV was priced from 149,900 yuan ($22,030), well below the average transaction price for comparable electric SUVs sold in the North American market.
