Japanese carmaker Nissan has set out ambitious new goals around electric vehicles at an event in Japan. The firm says that it plans to sell a million electrified cars a year by 2022. 

The expansive target deals specifically with pure electric models such as the Leaf, and range-extended electric models that use Nissan’s e-Power system, which features an electric powertrain boosted by a small petrol generator. No cheating with hybrid powertrains here. 

Nissan has sold a little over 300,000 Leafs since the car first went on sale in December 2011 – with the second-generation version of the car just launched and plans being drawn up to expand the company’s electric range, the scale of the job is enormous.  

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As part of its plans, Nissan says it will develop eight new EVs on the back of the Leaf’s success, launch new electric vehicles in China under different brands, including an affordable EV, and it will also offer a new electric SUV that will be sold worldwide. 

Nissan says that 40 percent of its car sales in Europe will be electric or range-extended electric vehicles by 2022, rising to 50 percent by 2025. 

Philippe Klein, Nissan’s chief planning officer, said, ‘Our product and technology strategy is dedicated to positioning Nissan to lead the automotive, technology and business evolution. Our efforts are focused on delivering Nissan Intelligent Mobility, encompassing the three core elements of electrification, autonomous drive, connectivity and new mobility services.’

Speaking at a media briefing alongside senior vice presidents Takao Asami and Ogi Redzic, who lead the respective autonomous driving and connectivity projects at the Renault Nissan Alliance, Klein reaffirmed that the midterm plan aims to boost annual revenue by 30 percent to £110bn by the end of the 2022 financial year.

Gallery: 2018 Nissan Leaf first drive