Entrevistas de Riesgo - José Román CEO Nissan México

Well, thank you Carlos for the invitation. Thank you for being here in Bogotá for this regional launch, so important for us at Nissan Latin America. We're launching one of Nissan's star products in the world: the Nissan X-Trail, but the e-POWER version. Basically, for everyone to understand, it's a small gasoline engine that charges the battery, and the car moves with electric technology; the propulsion is with an electric motor. This gives a benefit to the client because it has a range as an electric vehicle of over 900 kilometers.

Well, I tell you, we're quite fast because it was in Japan about five years ago. In Japan, it's been very robust, the client loves it. It was launched with the Nissan Note, which was the first in the segment for many years. Then we launched it in Europe, and now we're in Ecuador, in Latin America. We'll be in Mexico, in Colombia too, and I think it's a very interesting topic because what we're doing is, I don't know if it sounds a bit political, but we're democratizing the technology. So basically, an electric vehicle that we also sell, obviously, the Leaf has over 10 years in the region, but these e-POWER vehicles will be within reach of the client, which is very interesting.

Well, basically, it's a very simple technology. What we try at Nissan is to facilitate people's lives, to place technology that is friendly for the client, useful in daily life and basically reduces fatigue in driving in the heavy traffic we have in Quito, in Guayaquil, as we know. You accelerate and decelerate with one foot, and you don't have to brake with the brake, which you also have, but basically it gives comfort to the client and control of the vehicle. I love it in the Nissan Leaf, it's wonderful. It's hard to get used to because you release and don't know what to do, but it's a technology that I think in a couple of days you're already driving without a problem. We have technologies that isolate the sound, so the interior of the vehicle is quite quiet, no noise. It's incredible what's happening with technology now, and the good thing is that these cars are within our reach, so I think that's one of the advantages we have with Nissan: the best technology in the world now within reach of any client in Latin America.

I would say that the X-Trail has always been an icon at Nissan; each generation has been better than the last, and this one is no exception. Now we have 13 new technologies that are incredible. We have safety technologies, electrification technologies, sound isolation technologies, drivetrain technologies. The e-4ORCE, with each tire, you have traction control, so it's the most modern technology we have in the X-Trail, and I think this is important for the client because you give value. The vehicle is an important product for a family's economy in Ecuador, and what better to have the best technology in the world available for the clients.

Each country depends. We're working with the different governments. In the case of Mexico, it has been given; in Colombia, it has been given, and in each country, we're working with each market. So I think it's something important to support mobility, the toll issue has to be incentivized, the taxes on registrations, etc. I think it's something good because people, for example, contaminate much less if there's very good driving over 900 kilometers, and this in the daily life of the family means that you won't have to go to the gas pump, I imagine, a couple of times every two months, perhaps, to refuel.

For vehicles of this range, of course. Also, the X-Trail has it, and by the way, it's incredible to drive in Quito. This is the car.

A bit, no, what I can tell you is that we always have as a motto 'Innovation that excites', and this is what we're now launching in Latin America, and I think many good things are coming. I can't tell you obviously, in two weeks I'll be in Japan talking with my partners there, and obviously we'll look at what's coming for the future. But a few months ago, I was also in Japan, I saw what's coming in terms of design; it's incredible. I can't tell you, but incredible things are coming to the market.

In the case of Nissan, we have several solutions. The pure electric solution, I think, is going to Europe, for example, a city that we're adopting in Europe, it's very clear there. In the American market, for example, the theory says that 40% of cars will be electrified by 2030. In the case of Latin America, Ecuador included, I think it will take at least 10 or 15 years for electrification to be 100%, because governments in general have other priorities; I don't think it's today's government to place charging stations every five kilometers of a highway. It's coming, but it will take time, so that's why this e-POWER technology is intelligent, I think, and facilitates life for the person because the performance of the vehicle is electric; you feel the vehicle moved by the electric motors it has.

The torque is impressive from the electric, yes, impressive. It has over 200 horsepower, it has two motors, it's an interesting technology. The only thing I'd say, this technology is interesting to explain, but I think the most important thing is to drive the car, experience it, sit in it, test it, go to the distributor, to the dealer where they present it, drive it, because seeing is believing, it's incredible.

Excellent question, you haven't asked me this question generally, but I'll tell you. The car doesn't have a transmission; it has a simpler handling system. There will be fewer parts, less wear, so it will be much simpler maintenance. Those who have the car complain about gear changes, which don't exist; what exists is a transformer, so to speak, a reduction box. So I think this will have fewer parts to generate the vehicle, so it gives ease, and our idea is that maintenance is the same price as a traditional gasoline car. Battery life, approximately, the battery lasts 15 years, 15 years minimum, yes, with warranty. I can't tell you the battery warranty, but they are technologies we use worldwide and are quite proven.

The idea is much simpler because when the battery, for example, the battery of the Leaf, when it no longer has its useful life for the vehicle, it still has 60 or 70% charging capacity. So that battery has what we call 'second life,' a second life. That second life can be used in homes, to power a building, etc. We had it in Japan, so you accumulate battery cells and can charge, and if they can change it too. This is a worldwide issue; it will have a process. We're just starting in Latin America, we're thinking about it as Nissan, and we believe we'll have more important topics about second life.

I appreciate it very much, greetings to my fellow Ecuadorians, a hug, thank you.