Nissan electric car in three years

　　Yasuaki Hashimoto: Nissan electric car can achieve profitability within three years

　　Two days ago，Nissan Leaf won the Award of 2011 European Car of the Year. However, although three judges gave this model full score, there are 9 gave a zero score. It can be said that this eye-catching model worldwide has not widely accepted.

　　Whether Nissan has sufficient basis in reality to make LEAF profitable in three years? To what extent can the subsidy policy fit for both local and foreign automakers promised by Chinese government promote the localization process of LEAF? On these popular concerns, SOHU AUTO interviewed Nissan (China) Investment Co., Ltd. General Manager Mr.Yasuaki Hashimoto at the site of 2010China Green Energy Automotive Development Summit Forum.

　　Mr. Hashimoto acknowledged that there are still differences about the evaluation and cognition of the Leaf currently. “Although I only understand that we won this award rather than the selection detail and review process you described, I think why we get different evaluation is actually because they have varied criteria.”

　　As for the high-profile declaration announced by Ghosn recently to make Nissan electric car business profitable within three years, Hashimoto realized that there are still significant hopes.

　　“There are many uncertain factors. First, we are private company that depends much on market stability and the actual situation as well as the size of the market, particularly in Europe, the United States and Japan. If we can get access permission and seize a large enough market, there is great hope.”

　　In this process, Nissan has also suffered the problem of different demands of diffident segment worldwide. “Consumers in different countries have different requirements for EV, which is also a test of our products, but fortunately, we are currently in the U.S. and European markets have received very good feedback, so there are great opportunities to make Nissan electric car business profitable within three years.”

　　As for the concern of the localization process of LEAF, Hashimoto holds an opinion that among many complex issues need to be addressed, the standard battery and charging equipment problem is imminent.

　　“The Chinese government’s subsidies on imported electric cars have been very clear, which would indeed promote the localization of LEAF, but the most important thing is to have uniform standards for batteries and electric vehicles. If Beijing and Shanghai adopt different standards, production will be hard for us. We can say that right now is the most important time. We will accelerate the localization as the standards and policies getting settled. But presently, it is really difficult for us to predict how many electric cars China needs. Maybe it is only one, maybe one million.”

　　(Translator: Yalong/Jessie)

　　See original Chinese report Please click:

　　http://auto.sohu.com/20101202/n278058890.shtml