Nissan has reportedly abandoned plans to develop a fully electric version of the Qashqai, its best-performing European model, as part of a broader cost-cutting and rationalisation effort.
Citing unnamed sources, Reuters reported that development of the battery-electric variant was quietly wound down early last year
The Qashqai is central to Nissan’s European business, accounting for roughly 45% of the carmaker’s total regional sales of 330,000 vehicles in 2025. The Japanese carmaker had pledged in 2023 to manufacture an electric Qashqai at its Sunderland facility – UK’s largest car plant – a commitment the UK government had highlighted as evidence of the country’s standing as a global EV manufacturing hub. No delivery timeline for the electric variant had been set at the time.
Should the project be revived, two of the sources said the vehicle would not reach market until the early 2030s. Nissan did not directly comment to the publication on its plans for a fully electric Qashqai, but said it was still committed to broadening its “electrified” range, including hybrid models. The company also cited “significant volatility” in European EV demand, adding that it was pursuing a “balanced” electrification strategy.