Dongfeng-Nissan Bets on a China-First Technique with the N7 Sedan

Final Up to date on: seventeenth June 2025, 02:17 am

Sells 20,000 vehicles in 2 months

Chinese language carmaker Dongfeng Nissan formally launched the N7 EV on the Shanghai Motor Present in April. It was first introduced in November 2024 on the Guangzhou Motor Present however not formally launched till Auto Shanghai in April. The automobile is a Nissan, however extra a Dongfeng. It’s manufactured by the Dongfeng (pronounced Don-fung) manufacturing unit however carries the Nissan badge, engineering, and design philosophy.

The press launch despatched by Nissan mentioned is has bought 17,000 vehicles for the reason that April launch. That quantity has ballooned to twenty,000 or extra since June 5 — simply 12 days for the reason that first report — and is claimed to be rising by about 100 vehicles a day bought in main Chinese language cities — Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, and naturally in Wuhan, the place Dongfeng’s headquarters are positioned.

In China, it’s straightforward for a brand new automobile to get misplaced within the noise. There appears to be a brand new automobile popping out each month. Dongfeng Nissan, nonetheless, decidedly approached its launch, the Japanese means. A deep market research, good pricing coupled with considerate engineering, and a quiet confidence encompass the brand new N7 electrical sedan.

I suppose it is usually a press release of intent and a sign of a serious technique shift for the Japanese automaker on this planet’s largest — however not essentially most demanding — electrical automobile market.

The N7 is the primary automobile born from Nissan’s new devoted electrical platform, however extra importantly, it was developed and produced completely in China. This isn’t a Japanese automobile tailored for the native market; it’s a ground-up collaboration designed to satisfy Chinese language drivers the place they’re, mixing Nissan’s manufacturing experience with the fast-moving, tech-forward strategy of native companions.

I’m basing the next description solely on movies and images in addition to DF-Nissan’s gross sales literature.

The N7 design clearly prioritizes aerodynamic effectivity. The automobile sits low and broad, with a drag coefficient of simply 0.208. The entrance finish carries Nissan’s signature V-Movement design, however it’s the lighting that catches the attention. A group of 710 LEDs kind the headlights, whereas a full-width rear gentle bar makes use of 882 particular person OLEDs.

It’s not the primary time, however the execution appears to be extra refined than others, as N7 homeowners can customise the lighting patterns and even mission textual content when the automobile is parked, a characteristic that feels completely suited to a tech-savvy viewers. The doorways are frameless, the handles sit flush with the physique. Not new, however admittedly nicely executed.

Opening the door reveals an inside like a minimalist dwelling house. The centerpiece is a large 15.6-inch, 2.5K central display, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor that retains interactions fluid and lag-free.

DF-Nissan targeted closely on passenger consolation. The entrance seats, which they name “zero-pressure,” use an AI-driven system that reads 49 sensor factors to subtly regulate posture for long-haul consolation. In addition they characteristic a 12-point therapeutic massage operate. A intelligent refrigerated and heated compartment within the heart console can chill drinks all the way down to -6°C or heat them to 55°C, a sensible contact that goes past the standard creature comforts. Including to the ambiance are a pair of retractable audio system that rise from the sprint and a big panoramic roof that bathes the cabin in gentle.

The N7 arrives with a sophisticated driver-assist system developed with Momenta, a serious participant in China’s autonomous driving scene. The system, referred to as “Navigate on Autopilot,” is designed to deal with the total spectrum of driving duties. On the freeway, it manages merges and overtakes. Within the metropolis, it executes advanced turns and lane adjustments. The system may even deal with the headache of parking in tight or angled areas by itself, a characteristic that may certainly resonate with city drivers.

Energy comes from a alternative of two LFP battery packs, 58kWh or 73kWh, each constructed on a 400-volt structure. This setup gives a spread of 510 to 635 kilometers, relying on the configuration. For a driver on the go, the battery might be charged from 10% to 80% in a claimed 19 minutes, addressing one of many key ache factors of EV possession.

The N7 is on the market in three grades — Max, Professional, and Air. The Max and Professional grades provide two forms of battery at costs starting from RMB 119,900 to 149,900 (roughly $17,000 to $21,000).

The N7 is quantity one in every of 9 vehicles designed (however not completely solely) for the Chinese language market, and twelve for its international customers, beneath Nissan’s “The Arc” marketing strategy, based on sources near CleanTechnica. It’s a high-stakes guess that by constructing vehicles in China, for China, Nissan can reclaim its footing and carve out a brand new id within the electrical period beneath one other company re-strengthening exercise, the “Re:Nissan restoration plan.”