Nissan Channels Tesla With Its Latest Manufacturing Process
Nissan adopts Tesla’s gigacasting technology as it plans to launch 30 new models by 2027
Nissan is drawing inspiration from Tesla. The Yokohama-based automotive giant is introducing gigacasting in the manufacturing process for future electric vehicle (EV) parts to help reduce costs.
Gigacasting streamlines production by casting entire sections of a chassis in one step instead of welding together numerous separate parts. This method reduces costs by minimizing the number of individual components required without the large pieces warping or cracking.
Nissan joins other automakers like Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and Ford in adopting this Tesla-inspired process.
The company estimates that this process will reduce manufacturing costs by 10% and is part of its broader strategy to achieve cost parity between electric vehicles and combustion-engine vehicles by 2030.
Although Tesla is currently the world's second-largest manufacturer of electric vehicles, trailing only BYD, Nissan's Sakura leads as the top-selling car in Japan, capturing roughly half of all EV sales in the country. VW Group, General Motors, and Stellantis round out the top five.
Nissan looks to the future
As part of a new initiative, The Arc, Nissan plans to launch 30 new models by 2027. By 2030, the company aims to reduce the difference in costs between its combustion and all-electric vehicles.
Among the new models are potential offerings such as the Xterra, a Nismo version of the Ariya, and a new pickup developed in collaboration with Mitsubishi. Nissan also hinted at a potential EV partnership with Honda.
The company also recently announced that a new all-solid-state battery pilot line is under construction, with the carmaker planning to introduce these batteries by 2028.
