Nissan to become carbon neutral in 2050

29 / 01 / 2021

By Ahmed Abdel Qawi - - | Edited by Marwa Nassar

Nissan Motor Company has set the goal to achieve carbon neutrality across the company’s operations and the life cycle of its products by 2050.

As part of this effort, by the early 2030s every all-new Nissan vehicle offering in key markets will be electrified.

Nissan’s goal builds on its decades-long programs to reduce emissions and provide electric vehicle technologies that benefit the environment and society. The company’s electrification and emissions reduction efforts support the aims of the U.N. Paris Agreement on climate change and global progress toward carbon neutrality by 2050.

Nissan’s ambition also expands upon past initiatives under the Nissan Green Program and the company’s ongoing work to minimize the carbon footprint of its products and operations. The company introduced the world’s first mass-market electric car, the Nissan LEAF, and has sold more than 500,000 of the zero-emission vehicle to date. Nissan also continues to work with industry coalitions and authorities to develop infrastructure and raise public awareness about the benefits of electric vehicles.

With 100% of all-new vehicle offerings to be electrified in the key markets of Japan, China, the US and Europe by the early 2030s, Nissan will also be among the leaders in driving the adoption of electric vehicle technology.

Nissan believes the automotive industry can be a driving force in meeting global environmental and climate needs through a commitment to innovation and impact reduction by collaborating with authorities and partners worldwide. When combined with the expansion of renewable energy and charging infrastructure, vehicle electrification and sustainable operations can help accelerate the arrival of a carbon neutral future.

Nissan has set medium-term plans to take measures to protect the environment in accordance with the company’s Environmental Philosophy – Symbiosis of people, vehicles and nature. These plans will be implemented under Nissan Green Program 2022 which was announced in 2017 with four main axes:

Climate Change: Promote society’s de-carbonization through expansion of electrification, vehicle intelligence and innovative future.
Resource Dependency: Create a system that uses resources efficiently and sustainably, and promote services to use vehicles more effectively (Circular Economy).
Air Quality: Ensure cleaner exhaust emissions and create a comfortable in-cabin environment to protect human health and to reduce the impact on the ecosystem.
Water Scarcity: Reduce water consumption and manage water quality during the manufacturing process.

Nissan will pursue further innovations in electrification and manufacturing technology to make progress on the company’s carbon neutrality goal in the following strategic areas:

Battery innovations including solid-state and related technologies to develop cost-competitive and more efficient electric vehicles;
Further development of Nissan’s e-POWER electrified powertrains to achieve greater energy efficiency;
Development of a battery ecosystem to support decentralized, onsite power generation for buildings with renewable energy sources. Nissan anticipates increased collaboration with the energy sector to support the decarbonization of power grids;
Manufacturing process innovations to support higher productivity in vehicle assembly, starting with the Nissan Intelligent Factory initiative. The company will also strive for greater energy and material efficiencies to support longer-term carbon neutrality ambitions.

Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida said “We’re determined to help create a carbon neutral society and accelerate the global effort against climate change.”

“Our offering in electrified vehicles will continue to expand around the world, and this will make a major contribution to Nissan becoming carbon neutral. We will continue to drive innovation that enriches people’s lives as we pursue a sustainable future for all,” he concluded.