Nissan has started the production of its second all-electric vehicle – the e-NV200 – which will be available as both a passenger vehicle and light commercial van.
The ceremony was attended by Spanish Ministry of Industry, José Manuel Soria, Catalan President, Artur Mas; and the Mayor of Barcelona, Xavier Trias, who were welcomed by Nissan’s Chief Planning Officer, Andy Palmer.
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The Nissan plant in Barcelona will be the global production site for the zero-emission vehicle, which will be available as a light commercial van, passenger vehicle and electric taxi.
Representing an investment of EUR100m in Nissan’s Barcelona Plant, as part of a wider EUR431m investment in its Spanish operations, the e-NV200 will initially be exported to around 20 international markets, including Japan. Just as with the Nissan Leaf introduction, the number of markets will grow after the initial launch.
Nissan’s Andy Palmer said: “This is a great landmark day for Nissan, starting production of our second electric vehicle. This is at a time when EV’s are now recognized as mainstream technology, many competitors are only just starting to launch their first EV and where Nissan has clear first mover advantage. We’re proud that the Nissan Leaf is the world’s best selling electric vehicle with more than 110,000 delighted customers enjoying the quiet and smooth ride of an EV.”
Barcelona will also be the first city in the world to introduce the e-NV200 as a 100% electric taxi, an initiative Palmer believes is vital for the city. “This e-NV200 taxi has renewed significance in the wake of record levels of air pollution in London and Paris,” he noted. “Bringing a significant number of zero emission vehicles to Barcelona’s streets will ensure cleaner air for every citizen, visitor and tourist, and we’re confident that forward-thinking councils everywhere will be clamoring to bring these benefits to their municipalities in the coming years.”
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By GlobalDataFor the Mayor of Barcelona, the start of production of new all-electric van and the partnership between Nissan and Barcelona “is part of a strategy in Barcelona and its metropolitan area in order to consolidate Barcelona as the centre of a new urban economy model, based on innovation, technology and sustainability. In our city, we are strategically targeting sectors that are essential for the future, and electric vehicles are one of them. Furthermore, we are working to generate wealth in our city, strengthening our economy and the industrial sector; thus making a very important step ahead that will improve the quality of life for residents”.
Frank Torres, managing director and vice president of Nissan Spain Industrial Operations said: “Barcelona has the honour of producing Nissan’s second 100% electric vehicle, and this is a result of many years of hard work and quality improvements from the team here. This will be only the second time we have produced a model in Spain for export back to Nissan’s home market in Japan and that is a fantastic achievement by my colleagues at the plant.”
Barcelona is the sole Nissan plant globally producing the electric version of e-NV200.
Nissan UK MD Jim Wright recently told just-auto that he sees the e-NV200 electric van as a model introduction that will boost Nissan EV sales in the UK fleet marketplace.
Wright acknowledged that building EV sales has been tough for Nissan, but said that he sees things beginning to shift and believes that Nissan’s electric van will be key to building sales of electric vehicles in the UK fleet market.
See also: UK: Nissan eyes fleet sales for e-NV200 as EV booster
