Nissan unveils a new Leaf-based electric car to be mass-produced in China

Strong government programs and market conditions have led to rapidly growing electric vehicle demand in China and now automakers are launching vehicles exclusive to the market.

Nissan is the latest to get in on the trend with a new Leaf-based electric car.

The vehicle is called the ‘Sylphy Zero Emission’ and Nissan presents it as its ‘first mass-production electric car in China.’

José Muñoz, Nissan’s chief performance officer and chairman of the Management Committee for China, unveiled the vehicle at the Auto China 2018 show in Beijing today:

The new Sylphy Zero Emission is the next step in our electrification strategy for China. The new Sylphy Zero Emission will be Nissan’s first mass-production electric vehicle for the China market and one of the 20 electrified models that we plan to introduce over the next five years.

The Japanese automaker says that the Sylphy “inherits the LEAF’s core technologies while offering the stability and reliability of a full-size wheelbase.”

Nissan didn’t confirm the specs of the powertrain, but it claimed: “an extended drive range of 338 kilometers, according to official Chinese standards.”

Nissan says that the Sylphy Zero Emission will go on sale later in 2018 and more information about the specs and pricing will be available at that time.

Electrek’s Take

338 kilometers on the Chinese standards is 210 miles.

Considering they said that it has the same “core technologies” as the Leaf, I assumed it has the same 40 kWh battery pack and the same electric drive unit. Therefore, the EPA-rated range is likely closer to the 150 miles of the latest Leaf.

We would need to see the full specs to confirm that, but it sounds likely to me.

Either way, it looks like the Chinese market is going to have a lot more EV options in the next few years than the rest of the world thanks to their ZEV mandate and the fact that they have an attractive growing market for automakers.