Nissan to launch electric city car twin to Renault Twingo
Nissan has announced that it plans to develop an electric city car based on the same platform as the upcoming Renault Twingo.
The company’s CEO Makoto Uchida confirmed that it was in early talks with Renualt’s Ampere EV division to develop a new compact model that will sit beneath the new electric Micra in its range.
Speaking at a media event at Ampere’s ElectriCity site, Uchida said: “Nissan has asked Ampere to explore the development of the A-segment car for Europe. Through this partnership we aim to optimise our European coverage.”
He added that the aim in working with Ampere was to allow a very short development time to bring the car to market ‘at the best time’. The EV arm of Renault is already developing the next-generation Twingo, which is expected to go on sale in 2026.
That car is based on a modified version of the AmpR small platform already in use on the Renault 5 and Renault 4, and the new Nissan is expected to use the same underpinnings.
Technical details are still under wraps but Renault is believed to be targeting a sub-£17,000 starting price for the Twingo, which any Nissan equivalent is likely to stick close to. Renault has also indicated that it is targeting cruising efficiency of 6.2m/kWh and claims the city car will create 75% less CO2 emissions over its lifetime than an average ICE car.
Uchida said: “We are aiming for a smart car for the drivers of tomorrow that will be good for customers, for us and for Ampere.
“This car will deliver the convenience and advanced functionality that customers experience but in a small size and at an attractive and affordable price.”
Nissan hasn’t built a city car since the Pixo, which was discontinued in 2013. The new car will slot in beneath the Micra as an entry-level to Nissan’s EV range.
The Japanese brand is already working with Renault on the new Micra, which is expected to be launched in 2025. That will be based on the same underpinnings as the Renault 5, and is likely to come with the same 248-mile range and 148bhp motor as the Renault.
Renault had previously been in talks with Volkswagen over sharing the Twingo’s platform for a new VW city car but those discussions collapsed in May.
