Source: Dongfeng Nissan

Dongfeng Nissan said on December 11, 2025, that the 50,000th Nissan N7 rolled off the production line in China, marking one of the fastest production ramps for a joint-venture pure electric sedan amid a market dominated by domestic brands.

Source: Dongfeng Nissan

The Nissan N7 was launched on April 27, 2025, with five variants priced from 119,900 CNY to 149,900 CNY (c. $17,000–$21,200). The model reached 10,000 firm orders within 18 days and surpassed 20,000 firm orders within 50 days, according to the company, providing early evidence that joint-venture EVs could still gain traction in China’s mass-market segment.

The milestone arrives as joint-venture automakers face shrinking relevance in China’s rapidly electrifying passenger vehicle market. Chinese brands accounted for 69.4% of passenger car sales in the first 10 months of the year, while joint-venture brands fell to 30.4%, a historical low. Penetration of new energy vehicles among joint ventures remains below 5%, underscoring the strategic importance of the N7 for Dongfeng Nissan.

The N7 targets the 100,000–150,000 CNY price band, the largest volume segment in China’s EV market. New energy vehicle sales in this range reached 2.351 million units in the first nine months of the year, up 77.5% year-on-year.

Source: Dongfeng Nissan

With a length of 4,930 mm and a 2,915 mm wheelbase, the N7 positions itself as a mid-to-large electric sedan while keeping pricing below 150,000 CNY, undercutting similarly sized domestic rivals whose mainstream trims often exceed that level.

The car is built on Dongfeng Nissan’s new Tianyan architecture and adopts a closed front fascia with split headlamps and a full-width LED light bar. The system integrates 710 high-power LED light sources and 882 OLED luminous units and supports interactive lighting functions. Aerodynamic optimization yields a drag coefficient of 0.208 Cd. Despite B-segment exterior classification, the interior layout is designed to deliver C-segment cabin space.

Source: Dongfeng Nissan

Inside, the N7 features a 15.6-inch 2.5K central display and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. Entry-level versions use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8155 chip, while mid- and high-grade models upgrade to the 8295P processor. The vehicle runs Nissan OS and supports Apple CarPlay and Huawei HiCar. Its AI voice assistant integrates the DeepSeek-R1 large language model for navigation, infotainment, and customizable scenarios.

Dongfeng Nissan partnered with Momenta to deploy an end-to-end intelligent driving assistance system. Highway navigation assistance has already been delivered, while urban memory navigation and memory parking are scheduled to open in June. The system supports L2+ functions including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automated parking, with urban navigation features offered at price points below 150,000 CNY.

Powertrain options include single-motor configurations rated at 160 kW and 200 kW, paired with lithium iron phosphate batteries. CLTC-rated range spans from 510 km to 635 km (317–395 miles). All variants support 3C fast charging, enabling a 30%–80% recharge in 14 minutes, and offer 6.6 kW vehicle-to-load capability. Battery safety features include thermal non-propagation protection and a reinforced underbody structure, with lifetime coverage for the first owner on key electric systems.

Source: Dongfeng Nissan

Despite the production milestone, recent sales data point to slowing momentum. Monthly sales peaked above 10,000 units in August, then declined to 6,540 units in October and 4,016 units in November, a 39.4% month-on-month drop.

The divergence between production scale and sales pace has raised questions about the sustainability of aggressive pricing and whether early demand reflected novelty rather than long-term market acceptance.

For Dongfeng Nissan, the N7’s trajectory may determine whether joint-venture automakers can reestablish relevance in China’s EV market, or whether scale alone is no longer enough in an increasingly crowded price war.