Nissan’s new Micra is electric and built by Renault

Japanese car manufacturer Nissan has confirmed that it will release a fully electric version of its Micra this year, the car’s first all-electric generation. The EV will be built by Nissan’s long-time partner Renault in France and will share the same platform as the electric R5. Two other Nissan EVs have also been announced.

Meanwhile, the new Nissan CEO, Ivan Espinosa, has said he’s open to partnering with many interesting companies, including Honda.

Nissan’s tiny Micra has been available with a combustion engine since 1982. Production of the fifth generation ended in 2022, but at the time, Nissan promised a comeback with an all-electric vehicle. And now the time has come.

The small car is set to celebrate its premiere this year. Like the R5, the small electric car will be based on Renault’s AmpR Small platform. Renault will also build the car for its partner Nissan at its ElectriCity, the factory of Renault’s electric subsidiary, Ampere, in Douai, France, where several Renault EVs are built or planned to go into production.

When we visited the factory some months ago, Luca de Meo was already proudly announcing the venue for the Micra’s construction. He added that a mini-car in the so-called A segment from Nissan is also to be expected. It will be based on the same platform as the upcoming Renault Twingo Electric, coming in 2026 and promised to cost around €20,000.

Technical twin of R5

Information about the electric Nissan Micra is still scarce. The company only states that Nissan Design Europe in London designed the vehicle and plans two battery variants with 40 and 52 kWh.It will probably also offer two electromotors of 90 and 110 kW.

That is identical to the Renault R5, which was initially launched in Belgium with a 52 kWh battery, a WLTP range of 410 kilometers, and a price tag of €32,900. A 40 kWh variant with a range of around 300 kilometers is available starting at €27,900.

As a teaser photo suggests, the Nissan Micra will also have a noticeable distinguishing feature: hinted-at round headlights at the front.

Two other EVs coming

In addition to the electric Micra, the Japanese manufacturer has announced two more all-electric models. Firstly, the Nissan Leaf, launched as an electric vehicle in 2010, will enter its third generation this year after production of the second generation of the car in Sunderland, UK, was discontinued in March 2024.

As announced then, the new Leaf will also be built at the Sunderland plant, which has since been modernized. In its third generation, the new Leaf now has a striking aerodynamic design and is based on the Nissan CMF-EV platform, which it shares with the Nissan Ariya.

The third new electric model will be the Nissan Juke. Like the Micra, the third generation will be the first Juke to hit European roads with an all-electric motor. The basis is the Hyper Punk concept car, which was presented at the Japan Mobility Show in October 2023. The market launch of the all-electric Nissan Juke is scheduled for 2026.

“The renewal of Nissan’s European line-up is the realisation of our strong plan to enhance and electrify our range in Europe,” says Leon Dorssers, Regional Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Nissan AMIEO (Africa, Middle-East, India, Europe, and Oceania).

“All the new models will share common Nissan DNA: striking design, technical innovation and intuitive technology, a combination of qualities which we are confident will attract new buyers to Nissan, as well as continuing to appeal to existing customers who already love how Nissan vehicles enrich their daily lives,” he adds.

‘Very open to tie-ups with new partners, even Honda’

Meanwhile, the new Nissan CEO, Ivan Espinosa, who starts on April 1st, said it is possible to expand joint operations with Honda Motor Co., even after merger talks between the two automakers under a holding company fell through earlier this year.

Espinosa, who will assume the top post on April 1, said in a meeting with a group of media outlets on Tuesday that the auto industry is undergoing a transformation toward intelligent vehicles. He said the transformation “is going to require a lot of work and a lot of investment. ”

Nissan must spend carefully on development as it struggles to remain profitable. The automaker expects to post a net loss for the current fiscal year ending next Monday, its first in four years, making it the only Japanese carmaker in the red.

Espinosa, currently serving as chief planning officer, said Nissan has been slow to roll out new models and that addressing the issue will be a key priority. He said his company may partner with companies in other industries “as long as these partners are helping us drive the vision of the business and increase the corporate value” of Nissan.

He said the talks on the merger with Honda collapsed, but Nissan is still working with Honda. He added, “I’m open to new projects,” though he fell short of commenting on the possibility of resuming the merger talks.