Nissan is done pouring resources into petrol and diesel engine development, a daring decision that sets it apart from many competitors. The automaker has announced that it will no longer invest in research and development for new internal combustion engine (ICE) technologies. This shift, while signalling a firm commitment to electrification, doesn’t spell the immediate end of ICE vehicles in their lineup.
Instead, Nissan plans to continue producing existing ICE engines for markets that still rely heavily on them. Let’s look into what this means for Nissan and its iconic diesel-powered bakkies, particularly in regions like South Africa.
A Unique Direction Amidst Industry Trends
While many automakers are doubling down on combustion engines, Nissan is steering in a different direction. Mazda, Toyota, and Subaru are collaborating on next-generation gas engines that integrate with electric motors and run on alternative fuels, but Nissan’s strategy diverges sharply. Francois Bailly, Senior Vice President for the Africa, Middle East, India, Europe, and Oceania regions, captures this vision succinctly, “Our future is EV.” This commitment highlights Nissan’s strategy to focus on e-Power technology and full electrification in the coming years.
The Role Of e-Power
e-Power technology is Nissan’s unique approach to bridging the gap between traditional ICE vehicles and fully electric ones. It uses a small combustion engine to generate electricity for the electric motors, improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. Bailly describes e-Power as a “stepping stone” towards full electrification, suggesting that future vehicles will still offer combustion, but only in hybrid form and only using existing engines as seen with e-Power hybrid versions of popular models like the Nissan Qashqai and Nissan X-Trail.
Diesel Bakkies: Still In The Game
For fans of Nissan’s rugged bakkies, such as the Navara, there’s good news. While new ICE developments are off the table, existing diesel engines aren’t going anywhere just yet. In regions like Africa, Australia, Asia, and South America, diesel remains the preferred choice due to its fuel efficiency and long-range capabilities.
Nissan’s Rosslyn-based plant in South Africa continues to produce the Navara with a 2.5-litre diesel engine adapted for lower-quality diesel found locally and beyond. Seemingly, the next-generation Navara ute appears to adopt a plug-in hybrid powertrain as it shares its platform with the Mitsubishi Triton.
Navigating The Transition
Despite the shift towards electrification, Nissan acknowledges that ICE vehicles will still be necessary in certain markets for some time. Alliance Global VP of Research Division, Kazuhiro, has pointed out that while decarbonisation is essential, ICE engines cannot be phased out overnight. Hybrid solutions and hydrogen-based fuel cells are being explored as intermediate steps, with synthetic fuels also under consideration for future decarbonisation efforts.
Nissan’s electrification journey will be one to watch for sure. At Group1, we’re eager to see how it all unfolds. In the meantime, why not swing by and explore our current range of Nissan vehicles? There’s a lot to discover while we look forward to what’s next!