HEV and EV markets on the brink of change

Renault and Nissan have both championed electrification for some time, as the Renault Zoe and Nissan Leaf are among the best selling electric vehicles (EVs) in the world. However, neither company has successfully broken into the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) segment.

In 2015 Nissan discontinued the production of its Pathfinder Hybrid – a mid-size crossover SUV that combined a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a 15kWh electric motor. Renault, on the other hand, has not attempted to enter the market to date. Speaking to Automotive World, Kazuo Yajima, Alliance Global Director, EV and HEV Engineering Division, Nissan, revealed that this will soon change.