Production of the all electric Nissan e-NV200 van has begun in Barcelona – the second all electric vehicle from Nissan after the hugely popular LEAF electric car. The e-NV200 will be made available as both a passenger vehicle as well as a light commercial van thanks to it’s adaptable interior.
The Nissan factory in Barcelona was chosen due to it’s location and ability to serve Europe with all electric vans and particularly with their use as purpose built taxis, offering zero emissions. The factory represents €100 million investment as part of a total €431 million investment in all Nissan operations within Spain and Catalonia.
The e-NV200 will initially be exported to around twenty countries including Nissan’s home country, Japan.
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. Chief Planning Officer Andy Palmer hosted the VIP guests at the event, adding:
“This is a great landmark day for Nissan, starting production of our second electric vehicle. This is at a time when EVs are now recognized as mainstream technology. Many competitors are only just starting to launch their first EV – where Nissan has clear first mover advantage. We’re proud that the Nissan LEAF is the world’s best-selling electric vehicle with more than 110,000 delighted customers enjoying the quiet and smooth ride of an EV.”
Barcelona will be the first city in the world to introduce the e-NV200 as a 100 percent electric taxi, an initiative Palmer believes is vital for the city, continuing:
“This e-NV200 taxi has renewed significance in the wake of record levels of air pollution in London and Paris. Bringing a significant number of zero emission vehicles to Barcelona’s streets will ensure cleaner air for every citizen, visitor and tourist, and we’re confident that forward-thinking councils everywhere will be clamoring to bring these benefits to their municipalities in the coming years.”
For the Mayor of Barcelona, the start of production of new all-electric van and the partnership between Nissan and Barcelona…
“is part of a strategy in Barcelona and its metropolitan area in order to consolidate Barcelona as the center of a new urban economy model, based on innovation, technology and sustainability. In our city, we are strategically targeting sectors that are essential for the future, and electric vehicles are one of them. Furthermore, we are working to generate wealth in our city, strengthening our economy and the industrial sector – thus making a very important step ahead that will improve the quality of life for residents.”
Frank Torres, managing director and vice president of Nissan Spain Industrial Operations said:
“Barcelona has the honor of producing Nissan’s second 100 percent electric vehicle, and this is a result of many years of hard work and quality improvements from the team here. This will be only the second time we have produced a model in Spain for export back to Nissan’s home market in Japan, and that is a fantastic achievement by my colleagues at the plant.”
The new Barcelona plant will export the first batch of e-NV200’s in June 2014.
Source; Nissan
