Nissan Admits Learning from China to Accelerate Vehicle Development

Nissan Motor Co. has announced its success in cutting the vehicle development cycle by almost half, reducing the time required from 55 months to just 26 months.

As reported by Carnewschina on Sunday local time, this strategic move involves adopting much of the artificial intelligence (AI) implementation previously utilised by Chinese automotive manufacturers.

Nissan President, Ivan Espinosa, stated that this new development process has been tested on the latest generation of the Skyline, which is scheduled to launch in the winter of 2026.

Nissan’s transformation is said to be heavily influenced by the company’s experience in the Chinese market. Through its joint venture with Dongfeng Motor, Nissan leverages local expertise and technology to accelerate the product development process.

One example of this strategy in practice is the Nissan N7 electric sedan, which was launched in April 2025.

To achieve such a significant reduction in development time, Nissan has integrated AI technology throughout the entire vehicle development cycle, from design to mass production.

In the design phase, AI is used to assist in rapid modelling processes by generating various design proposals optimised for both aerodynamics and aesthetics.

In the testing sector, Nissan utilises virtual simulations to replace more than 60 per cent of physical prototype testing. This step accelerates the evaluation process for crash safety and vehicle durability, which previously required considerable time.

Regarding the supply chain, Nissan also employs AI-based predictive analytics to forecast component requirements and potential supply risks. This technology is expected to ensure a smoother transition from the research and development stage to mass production.