Nissan Motor Company expects that zero-emission cars will make up to 20 per cent of its sales in Europe by 2020, according to a statement by Gareth Dunsmore, Electric Vehicle (EV) Director for Nissan Europe.
The announcement came just after Swedish carmaker Volvo announced it too would be making a major move into electric vehicles.
Reuters Newsagency reports Nissan said it welcomed France’s commitment to reward those who choose more sustainable vehicles.
Last week, the French Ecology Minister Nicolas Hulot said France would aim to end the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040 and become carbon neutral 10 years later.
“By 2020, where the market conditions are right, I’m confident we’ll be selling up to 20 per cent of our volume as zero emissions vehicles and this will only grow,” Mr Dunsmore was quoted as saying in an emailed statement.
Volvo Car Group announced that in a few years, every model rolling off the carmakers’ assembly line will at a minimum be partly powered by electric battery system.
The Sweden-based luxury car manufacturer, owned by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, said it would roll out five new all electric-cars between 2019 and 2021.
The company will also offer plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) and mild hybrid choices to its customers.
Two of the new all-electric models will be branded as Polestar, a new line of electric cars the Swedish carmaker has recently spun off.
In recent years, the company has been polishing its sustainability credentials; and less than two months ago, Volvo mentioned that the company would slowly stop manufacturing diesel-powered cars.
“This is a clear commitment towards reducing our carbon footprint as well as contributing to a better air quality in our cities,” said Volvo’s President and CEO Håkan Samuelsson in a video explaining the strategy.
“We are convinced that the future of Volvo is electric, and that’s why we’ve stated the bold commitment.”
Volvo’s phasing out of cars with pure internal combustion engines will drive the company’s publicly stated goal of selling one million electrified cars by 2025.
