Nissan Launches China-Designed EV: Meet the New N7

【PCauto】On April 27th, Nissan launched the all-new Nissan N7 in the Chinese automotive market, which is developed by Chinese team. Surprisingly, the price of N7 is not expensive for the local automotive market.

• 510 Air, priced at RM78,000, with 540km range and 160kW motor
• 510 Pro, priced at RM77,915, with 525km range and 160kW motor
• 625 Pro, priced at RM83,984, with 635km range and 200kW motor
• 510 Max, priced at RM83,984, with 510km range and 160kW motor
• 625 Max, priced at RM89,931, with 625km range and 200kW motor

Several years ago, Nissan launched Ariya with a local price tag of RM119,920. Such high price made Ariya lose its competitiveness.

Now, Nissan has entrusted its EV development to Chinese teams, utilizing Dongfeng Group's Tianyan Architecture for the N7 - an approach that not only reduces costs but also better meets the needs of local automobile market.

As the first mid-to-large size pure electric sedan developed by Dongfeng Nissan's new energy technology architecture,the N7's design involved deep participation from Chinese teams. While maintaining Nissan's classic design elements, it incorporates local aesthetic preferences.

The exterior adopts Nissan's signature V-motion grille element, with the iconic closed design of V-shaped front fascia to show its EV identity. The full-width daytime running lights and fluid body lines demonstrate a balance between modern tech appeal and brand recognition.

Notably, the design of the body line is inspired by the 'fastback coupe' style favored by local consumers, retaining the stability of traditional sedan while optimizing the roofline curvature to reduce drag coefficient.

Nissan officially named the N7 as the electric version of Teana, with its comfort features developed entirely for the needs of Chinese family users. The Chinese team created specialized configurations tailored to local consumers' preference for a 'mobile third space.'

The cabin is equipped with Multi-Layer ergonomic seats co-developed by the Chinese team and local suppliers, with seat contours and support optimized for the needs of Asian body. Combined with ventilation/heating functions, the seats address comfort needs across varying climates.

The front row is equipped with a 15.6-inch floating touchscreen + 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip in a China-developed infotainment system.

The center console includes an 8L-capacity cooled/warm storage box with temperature adjustable through the infotainment system—catering to families' practical needs for chilled beverages or medication storage.

Additionally, the vehicle adopts double-layer acoustic glass and ANC active noise cancellation technology (jointly optimized by the Chinese team and Bose), combined with a 14-speaker surround sound system powered by a 910W high-performance amplifier (tuned by iFLYTEK's AI audio technology), creating a theater-grade quiet cabin that precisely meets domestic consumers' demand for an "immersive driving experience."

The powertrain adopts a ternary lithium battery pack (with an energy density of 185Wh/kg), paired with an efficient thermal management system developed by the Chinese team, achieving a maximum CLTC range of 635 km while balancing long-distance practicality and charging efficiency (30% to 80% charge in 30 minutes).

The vehicle adopts window glass with 99.9% UV blocking rate, combined with a PM2.5 filtration system and CN95-grade cabin air filters, creating a comprehensive health-oriented cabin. This configuration directly addresses post-pandemic users' concerns about in-cabin environmental safety.

The infotainment system supports OTA to remotely update, and the "Nissan Connect" app developed by the Chinese team provides functions like vehicle status monitoring, charging station search, and family account sharing.

In terms of pricing strategy, the price of N7 is precisely affordable for the local mainstream family market, which is the same with models like the BYD Qin PLUS EV and AION S, while below rivals such as the Volkswagen ID.3.

Through localized supply chain management (adopting domestic suppliers' solutions for both motor and electronic control systems) and prediction of scale effect, the Chinese team has achieved cost optimization without compromising the quality of configuration.

The launch of N7 marks an upgrade in Nissan's China R&D system - representing a shift from early-stage localization adaptation to full-process leadership by the Chinese team. However, Nissan isn't alone in this approach, as Toyota and Mazda have similarly introduced localized models like the bZ3X and EZ-6 in China.

Japanese automakers once outperformed European and American brands in the past, and it seems that the history will reappear. However, Japanese manufacturers are now adapting their strategies rapidly, seeking for collaborations to avoid disadvantage for its development.