Nissan Motor announced plans to produce solid-state batteries for electric vehicles at scale by early 2029. The company also aims to increase efficiency and reduce costs on future models with large casting machines. This move is part of Nissan’s strategy to stay competitive in the face of rivals such as Tesla and BYD, who have made significant strides in the production of battery-powered cars.
The Yokohama-based automaker will conduct prototype tests and develop the solid-state batteries at a yet-to-be-completed pilot plant in the city. Solid-state batteries, which are expected to charge faster and last longer than conventional ones, will begin production at the site in March 2025. Nissan plans to deploy 100 workers per shift to increase production to 100 megawatt hours per year from the financial year starting April 2028.
In addition to battery production, Nissan will employ heavy-force machines to manufacture the rear floors of EVs to be sold from a year earlier. This process is expected to reduce manufacturing costs by 10% and decrease the weight of components by 20%.
Hideyuki Sakamoto, executive vice president for manufacturing and supply chain management, shared that Nissan has been using casting boards for structural parts of front air conditioners for over 15 years at its Tochigi plant. “In the end, we decided to use a 6,000 tonnes gigacasting machine to make the rear body structure of cars using aluminium casting,” Sakamoto said.
Over the next three years, Nissan plans to launch 30 new models, 16 of which will be electrified. This includes eight all-battery-powered vehicles and four plug-in hybrids. The company, which pioneered EVs with its all-battery-powered Leaf, aims to reduce the cost of the next generation of such vehicles by 30% to make them comparable to internal combustion engine models by 2030.
Last month, Nissan and Honda Motor announced they are considering a strategic partnership to collaborate on key components for EVs and artificial intelligence in automotive software platforms.
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