According to Reuters, on April 16, Nissan, Japan's third-largest automaker, announced that it will begin mass-producing solid-state batteries for electric vehicles in early 2029. It will utilize large-scale die-casting machines to enhance efficiency and reduce costs for future models.
Reuters noted that Nissan aims to leverage technological advancements to compete fiercely against rivals like Tesla and BYD, both leaders in electric vehicle production.
Nissan will initially conduct prototype testing at an experimental factory in Yokohama and develop solid-state batteries before gradually increasing production capacity. However, as of now, the factory is not yet completed. Solid-state batteries are expected to charge faster and have a longer lifespan compared to traditional batteries.
Nissan plans to start production of the first batch of solid-state batteries at the Yokohama factory from March 2025 and deploy 100 workers per production shift starting from April 2028, aiming to increase production to 100 megawatt-hours per month.
Additionally, Nissan stated that starting from the fiscal year 2027, it will use integrated die-casting technology to manufacture electric vehicles, reducing manufacturing costs by 10% and component weight by 20%.
Hideyuki Sakamoto, Nissan's Executive Vice President responsible for manufacturing and supply chain management, mentioned that Nissan has over 15 years of experience using casting techniques at its Tochigi plant to manufacture structural components for front air conditioners. Sakamoto stated, "Nissan considered various ways to produce car bodies, and ultimately, we decided to use a 6,000-ton integrated die-casting machine to manufacture the rear body structure of the car with aluminum castings."
Nissan plans to launch 30 new vehicle models in the next three years, with 16 of them being electrified, including 8 pure electric vehicles and 4 plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company is currently seeking to reduce the cost of the next generation of electric vehicles by 30%, aiming to make electric vehicles competitive in price with internal combustion engine models by 2030.
