Nissan is exploring the export of electric vehicles produced at its joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Group in China to Canada, as well as other markets like Brazil and Mexico, company executives said [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Christian Meunier, Nissan's head of the Americas, said, "In Canada, the government has opened the door for some Chinese products. We’re looking at this" [1, 3, 4]. The Canadian government removed a de facto ban on Chinese-built EVs in January 2026, allowing up to 49,000 such vehicles to enter the country annually [1, 4].
Nissan aims to tap into demand for affordable electric vehicles created through collaboration with Dongfeng Motor Group [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Ivan Espinosa, Nissan CEO, said the company plans to ramp up exports from China initially to 100,000 units, with a longer-term goal of 300,000 units [1, 4].
The first models exported from Nissan’s China plant to Latin America will include the N7 electric sedan and the Frontier Pro pickup truck [1, 4]. This shift is part of Nissan’s broader effort to revive growth amid an aging vehicle lineup, heavy debt, and management struggles [1, 4].
Competition from Chinese-made EVs is rising. Tesla recently began advertising Shanghai-made Model 3 sedans in Canada for about C$42,132 after delivery fees [1, 4]. Nissan’s strategy reflects a global auto industry trend to leverage China’s lower production costs and accelerated EV development cycles to stay competitive [1, 4, 5].
Nissan has ambitions to reach 1 million vehicle sales annually in China by the end of the decade, underscoring the importance of its Chinese operations [4].
The Canadian government’s policy change in January 2026 allowing 49,000 Chinese-made EVs into the country annually remains a key enabler for Nissan’s export plans [1, 4]. The company’s near-term next step involves ramping up shipments from China to Canada and Latin American markets to test demand and optimize production volumes [1, 4].
