Feb 08 (Nikkei) - Nissan Motor will end development of new internal combustion engines in all its major markets except the U.S. and focus its resources on electric vehicles, becoming the first major Japanese automaker to make such a break, Nikkei has learned.
Nissan has already stopped developing gasoline engines for sale in Europe.
Limited development will continue on gasoline engines for the U.S. market, mainly those used in pickup trucks, where it expects a certain level of demand.
The move comes as policymakers worldwide tighten restrictions on vehicle emissions to promote a shift to EVs.
In Europe, new Euro 7 emissions standards are on track to go into effect as early as 2025. Nissan has determined these rules will raise the cost of developing internal combustion engines to unsustainable levels.
Nissan will phase out development of gasoline engines for the Chinese and Japanese markets. But it will continue to develop engines for hybrid vehicles.
As gasoline vehicles remain on the roads, Nissan will improve existing engine designs rather than develop new ones. Plants that produce engines will remain open, and no job cuts are planned at this stage, people familiar with the company's plans said.
Nissan has spent about 500 billion yen ($4.3 billion) a year on research and development, with most of that investment going toward gasoline engines and cars. Those funds now will be redirected to EVs and other new technology.
