Η Nissan will use gigacasting, a manufacturing process pioneered by Tesla, to build some of its electric vehicles as the automaker joins global rivals seeking innovation to cut costs.
The automaker will use machinery with a force of about 6,000 tons to build the rear floors of EVs sold from fiscal 2027 onward, according to a statement Tuesday.
The process will reduce manufacturing costs by 10%, the company said, and is part of its broader strategy to achieve cost parity between electric and internal combustion engine vehicles by fiscal 2030.
Japanese automakers are playing with competitors such as Tesla and Chinese giant BYD to gain share in the global electric vehicle market.
High prices are an obstacle
For manufacturers such as Nissan, which makes Japan's most popular EV, the high prices of battery-powered cars are proving to be a major barrier to wider adoption.
This is where gigacasting comes to the rescue. The process uses huge machines to cast entire sections of a frame in a single step, replacing the need to weld dozens of separate parts and saving time, equipment, labor and cost.
Tesla pioneered this approach and Japan's Toyota is among the automakers committed to using it.
