The Nissan Qashqai is a model that has brought many joys to the Japanese brand. In Europe – and in Spain – this hybrid SUV is an undeniable pillar and a model that tends to rank among the best-sellers, but Nissan’s plans to electrify it have collapsed and the brand has halted development of the 100% electric version.
The problem is the same one that all traditional brands face: there isn’t enough money to compete against China, against tariffs, against rising costs…
Cost-Cutting by Any Means
According to Reuters, the Japanese brand has halted development of an electric version of its best-selling model in Europe, as promised in 2023, in an attempt to reduce its range of models and cut costs. The model was going to be manufactured in Sunderland, United Kingdom, but right now the brand finds itself in the midst of a major global restructuring.
For the Spanish market, it makes no difference: the Qashqai will continue to be sold in its mild-hybrid versions and with Nissan’s successful e-Power technology. For the moment the Japanese company has signed an agreement with the Chinese giant Chery to study manufacturing the Chinese manufacturer’s vehicles using one of Sunderland’s two production lines.
It is currently in talks with London to obtain financial support, but nothing suggests that development of the electric Qashqai will be resumed in the near future. And yet it is a model of vital importance for the brand: it accounted for approximately 45% of its total sales of 330,000 cars in Europe in 2025, according to sales data analyzed by Reuters.
The problem is the usual one: traditional brands cannot compete with the Chinese. And Nissan is also in the middle of a restructuring plan that includes firing 15% of its global workforce — 20,000 layoffs — and closing seven plants. With this plan the company expects to save 300,000 million yen with this strategy (about 1.83 million euros at the current exchange rate).
Meanwhile, Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi have moved to ally themselves in the ultimate battlefield: software. According to the Nikkei Asia outlet, the three companies plan to standardize their electronic control units (ECU) in the next generation of hybrids and electrics. This includes all the autonomous driving and infotainment functions needed for future software-defined vehicles.
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