Nissan has selected its Barcelona plant as the sole global location to build the brand’s second electric vehicle, the e-NV200.
The new plug-in model will be closely based on the NV200 small van and minivan series. Barcelona is one of several global facilities that already builds combustion engine versions of the NV200. The addition of this new EV derivative brings with it EUR100m of new investment, Nissan notes.
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The e-NV200 had its global debut in concept form at the Detroit show in January.
Nissan says the new model will share certain components with the Leaf electric car, while also having a similar range and power output.
Intensive evaluations of prototype NV200-based electric vehicles are presently being carried out in Europe, and such trials will continue over the coming months in order to provide real-world feedback from the most demanding usage. The results of these vehicle tests will be examined closely before Nissan signs off the e-NV200 build programme. Production is due to commence during the 2013 financial year.
The NV200 (also sold as the Vanette) is gradually becoming one of the world’s most-built light commercials. Production is now at four plants: Nissan Shatai, Shonan (Japan); Barcelona (Spain); Zhengzhou, Henan (China); and Oragadam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (India). In 2013, production will be added at Cuernavaca in Mexico. This facility will manufacture the NV200 Taxi which Nissan is to supply to the city of New York over a ten-year period.
Author: Glenn Brooks
