In a recent press conference held in conjunction with the Frankfurt auto show, Nissan-Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn explained that, while 2013 has been a difficult year in many markets, he sees “a light at the end of the tunnel” of 2013, predicting market growth in 2014 and Nissan’s continued commitment to leading the pack in terms of electric car sales. That commitment to EVs will, according to Ghosn, amount to 1.5 million Nissan and Renault EVs on the road by 2020.
Ghosn also made clear that the Nissan and Renault recognize the fact that electric vehicles represent the next phase of automotive technology, and expects to see EVs reach 10% of the total car market once the world’s governments decide to commit to EVs (in the same way they’ve committed to oil and gas).
While that all sounds great, let’s not forget that Nissan has over-estimated the EV market before. It’s also worth noting that some of Ghosn’s failed pet projects, like the Renault-backed Project Better Place, are just as noteworthy for their failure as are the huge PR successes Ghosn has earned – like the upcoming electric (Grrl power!) LeMans effort, the plug-in Popemobile, and the back-and-forth sales race between the Leaf and Chevy’s Volt hybrid (which is marketed, in the US, as an EV and Leaf competitor).
Here’s hoping Nissan meets those 2020 sales goals. If it does, we’ll all be much better off!
Source | Photos: Motorpasion.
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