Nissan said all new European models made from now would be electric and only EVs would be sold across the continent by 2030.

“[After a million sales], there is no turning back now,” said president and CEO Makoto Uchida.

The UK government last week rolled back its 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars (not hybrids) to 2035.

Despite the delay, UK carmakers still have to meet unchanged EV sales targets starting in January.

Nissan said it planned to introduce 27 electrified vehicles worldwide, including 19 EVs, by 2030.

Two new models will come to Europe with one built at the UK plant in Sunderland as part of the EV36Zero project.

The European range is now 100% electrified with a mix of electric only UK built Leaf and Japanese assembled Ariya plus 'e-Power' and mild hybrid UK made Qashqai, imported e-Power X-Trail and hybrid UK built Juke.

Nissan said it would also introduce new battery technology by fiscal year 2028 to reduce charging time and cost. This would include cobalt free cells and launching its proprietary solid state batteries which was expected to lower the cost of battery packs down to US$75 per kWh with potentiall for US$65/kWh.