Nissan’s new $17,000 EV scores early in China as orders surge, but is it enough?

The N7 is surprisingly stylish and affordable, starting at under $17,000 in China. A month after launching, Nissan’s new EV has already secured over 17,200 orders, but will it be enough to keep pace in China?

Nissan’s new N7 EV secures 17,215 orders in China

After launching the N7 on April 28, Dongfeng-Nissan announced the electric sedan set a record, racking up 10,000 orders in 18 days.

Nissan’s joint venture partner in China said the N7 became the “fastest joint venture pure electric car” to reach the 10,000 mark.

According to the latest update, Nissan’s new EV now has 17,215 orders in China. Dongfeng Nissan revealed in a social media post on May 31 that N7 orders are still on the rise, 35 days after hitting the market. To keep the momentum going, the company is offering a limited-time promo worth up to 19,888 yuan ($1,400) by placing an order.

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A video circulating on social media (via CnEVPost) reveals order data from a company executive, showing that 13,746 of the orders have locked-in vehicle configurations.

The N7 starts at 119,900 yuan in China, or about $16,500. It’s available with two LFP battery options, 58 kWh or 73 kWh, providing a CLTC range of 540 km (335 miles) and 625 km (388 miles), respectively.

Measuring 4,930 mm long, 1,895 mm wide, and 1,487 mm tall, the electric sedan is slightly longer than a Tesla Model 3.

Inside, the N7 is equipped with smart tech and features, including Momenta’s smart driving system. Nissan claims it’s “the industry’s first-tier high-end intelligent driving system,” offering high-speed navigation assistance, full-scenario intelligent parking, and more.

It even comes with a few fun add-ons you won’t find on a typical Nissan, such as a smart refrigerator that can cool or heat drinks.

Electrek’s Take

Nissan’s new N7 looks nice, and it’s competitively priced, but can it keep up in China’s intensifying electric vehicle market? BYD is crushing rivals with extreme price cuts and new models, which seem to appear every week.

Its new electric sedan, the BYD Qin L EV, had over 10,000 in sales its first week on the market, and it starts at 119,800 yuan ($16,500).

Even Mazda, another Japanese brand struggling in China, is seeing early success. After launching the EZ-60 last month, Mazda’s electric SUV secured over 20,000 orders.

Are these orders binding? Typically, companies in China report orders that are non-refundable with a deposit, but some offer a few days’ grace period. We will find out soon as companies begin releasing sales results.

Nissan is already struggling to turn its business around. The company announced last month it’s cutting 20,000 jobs globally and closing several factories as part of a restructuring.

What do you think? Can Nissan’s new EV keep up in China? Or, are the early orders deceiving? Drop us a comment below and share your thoughts.