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Money-losing Japanese automaker Nissan is banking connected its latest “e-Power” exertion for a turnaround
ByYURI KAGEYAMA AP concern writer
YOKOSUKA, Japan -- Money-losing Japanese automaker Nissan is banking connected its latest “e-Power” exertion for a turnaround.
A benignant of hybrid, e-Power comes equipped with some an electrical centrifugal and gasoline engine, overmuch similar the Toyota Motor Corp. Prius. It’s antithetic from a Prius successful that it doesn’t power backmost and distant betwixt the centrifugal and motor during the drive.
That means the car ever is moving connected its EV battery, ensuring a quiet, creaseless ride.
“Nissan has a arrogant past of pioneering innovative exertion that acceptable america apart,” Chief Technology Officer Eiichi Akashi told reporters connected the sidelines of a trial thrust astatine its Grandrive people extracurricular Tokyo.
The vantage of e-Power vehicles is that they ne'er request to beryllium charged similar EVs do. The proprietor conscionable fuels up astatine a state presumption and the car ne'er runs retired of a charge.
Nissan Motor Corp., which racked up a $4.5 cardinal nonaccomplishment for the fiscal twelvemonth done March, sorely needs a hot-seller, particularly successful the lucrative North American market. But the U.S. marketplace is proving a large headache for each the Japanese automakers due to the fact that of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.
To execute a turnaround, Nissan is moving connected reducing costs, strengthening concern partnerships and redefining its lineup. That's wherever e-Power fits in, according to Akashi.
Yokohama-based Nissan announced earlier this period that it’s slashing astir 15% of its planetary enactment force, oregon astir 20,000 employees, and reducing the fig of its car plants to 10 from 17, nether an ambitious betterment plan led by its new Chief Executive Ivan Espinosa.
Nissan officials did not springiness a terms for the upcoming e-Power models. The lone different automaker offers a akin exertion is “kei,” oregon tiny car shaper Suzuki Motor Corp.
E-Power is already offered connected the Nissan Qashqai and X-Trail exemplary successful Europe, and the Note successful Japan. The upgraded mentation volition beryllium offered successful the caller Rogue successful the U.S.
Nissan, a pioneer successful EVs with its Leaf, which went connected merchantability successful 2010, is besides preparing beefed up EV models. It's besides moving connected a solid-state artillery which is expected to regenerate the lithium-ion batteries present wide utilized successful hybrids, EVs and e-Power models.
Analysts accidental Nissan is successful information of moving retired of currency and needs a partner. Speculation is rife its Yokohama office gathering volition get sold, oregon 1 of its Japan plants volition beryllium turned into a casino.
Nissan started talks past twelvemonth with Japanese rival Honda Motor Co. for a concern integration but announced successful February that it was dropping the talks.
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