Nissan’s ‘The Arc’: 30 new models and boosted profit to tackle Chinese

Nissan has presented its new business plan, The Arc. The aim is to sell an additional 1 million cars per year by the end of 2026 while boosting the profit margin to 6% to prepare for an accelerated EV transition by 2030. To achieve this, 30 new models will be released globally in the next three years.

Nissan’s new business plan is meant to strengthen the Japanese manufacturer’s position in a changing market, mainly driven by new Chinese competitors aiming to take a large piece of the pie in the growing EV market. To combat this threat, the company is looking at two horizons: 2026 and 2030.

Six new models for Europe, seven for North America

By 2026, 30 new Nissan models will be launched worldwide, 16 electrified and 14 traditional ICE models, to meet customer demands in different markets. Europe will get six all-new models, aiming for a 40% EV sales mix by the end of 2026, while the US and Canada will get seven all-new models, including e-POWER hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.

This first part of The Arc aims to grow Nissan’s sales volume to prepare for an accelerated transition to EVs by 2030. The goal is to achieve 1 million more sales compared to 2023 (which saw 3,374,271 vehicles sold), with an operating profit margin of 6% by the end of 2026.

30% cheaper EVs by 2030, new battery tech by 2028

After 2026, Nissan aims to increase its EV competitiveness by lowering production costs by 30% (compared to Ariya) to achieve cost parity between ICE and EV by 2030. The models will be developed in families with modular manufacturing to reduce parts variation and shorten development time.

New battery tech will also be adopted, with a three-pronged approach: NCM (nickel-cadmium-manganese) lithium-ion batteries that charge 50% faster and have 50% more energy density compared to the Ariya, cheaper LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) batteries with a 30% lower cost than current-gen cells, and solid-state batteries for the high-end market. This next generation of batteries will launch in 2028.

Partnerships for different markets

Of course, Nissan is not working alone in developing its technologies. The manufacturer says it will continue to leverage the alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi in Europe, Latin America, and India, as agreed upon in 2023. In Japan, Nissan has recently signed a letter of intent with Honda to collaborate on EV technology, although no concrete plans have emerged yet.