On July 8, 2026, Chinese media Kuai Technology reported that Nissan Motor has launched a new strategy to export cars produced in China, in order to compete with Chinese players such as BYD.

The article introduced that Nissan recently began exporting vehicles produced in China. The first batch is destined for Mexico, with plans to launch within the year.

It also explained that the first export model is the "Frontier Pro," a plug-in hybrid (PHV) pickup truck developed based on the platform of commercial vehicle manufacturer Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile, and is the first model to be designed, developed, and produced in China for export worldwide.

Furthermore, it pointed out that the main objective of Nissan's "export of China-made vehicles" strategy is to counter BYD, which is rapidly expanding in the local market. While Nissan holds the top position in the Mexican automotive market with an 18.2% share, BYD shipped over 116,000 units from January to November 2025, capturing approximately 70% of the electric vehicle (EV) and PHV market, thus posing a significant threat to Nissan.

It also explained that Nissan is trying to fill gaps in its product lineup and avoid substantial development costs by directly sending China-produced models overseas, leveraging the mature PHV technology and cost control capabilities of the Chinese market.

The article mentioned that while new regulations will be implemented in Mexico in January 2026, imposing additional tariffs of up to 50% on imports from countries that have not signed free trade agreements (FTAs), such as China, Nissan can receive preferential treatment because its production volume in Mexico exceeds a certain standard, meaning additional tariffs will not be imposed on vehicles imported from China. It stated that Nissan has a clear tariff advantage over other Chinese brands.

Furthermore, it reported that Nissan President Ivan Espinosa announced in late April a plan to gradually increase the number of exports from China from the current 100,000 units per year to 300,000 units. It conveyed that President Espinosa stated, "China is now gradually becoming an industry benchmark in terms of technology, cost, and development cycles. We must learn from China and bring the accumulated experience back to the outside world."

It also reported that in the future, Nissan plans to export China-made EV sedan "N7" and vehicles based on the "Frontier Pro" to the Philippines, and further expand exports to the Middle East and other regions. (Edited and translated by Kawajiri)