Nissan Reveals Sedan to Challenge Tesla Model 3

• Nissan brings the N7 electric sedan to Auto Guangzhou, planning to launch it in China in 2025.

• The model was engineered and designed in a joint venture with Chinese automaker Dongfeng, and it will be produced domestically for the local market.

• Despite launching the Leaf over a decade ago, Nissan has recently seen a slower rollout of other electric models in key regions—and now sees a role for plug-in hybrids in the coming years.

Tesla still has a lock on the midsize electric sedan segment, at least in the US and Europe, despite the Model 3 having debuted all the way back in 2017. The few challengers that have been fielded thus far are a testament to the Model 3's dominance, as Tesla's competitors concentrate on SUVs of various sizes.

But the same is not true in China, which now has quite a few competitors to the Model 3. And it's about to get another one, as Nissan gears up for the debut of the N7 in 2025.

Engineered in China by Nissan's joint venture with automaker Dongfeng on a new modular architecture, the N7 was previewed by the Epoch concept earlier this year, and it's one of the first EVs to be launched under The Arc business plan.

The concept we saw back in April has turned out to be a very close preview of the production model, which was revealed at Auto Guangzhou this month. Measuring 194.0 inches front to back, the N7 is about 8 inches longer than the Tesla Model 3, with a wheelbase an inch and a half longer than Tesla's.

So in practice it's a bit closer to the dimensions of the VW ID.7—also a sedan that's not in a particular hurry to make it stateside.

Aimed at urban and suburban go-getters, as Nissan put it this spring, the N7 goes heavy on tech, including a driver-assist system dubbed "Navigate on Autopilot," which should sound familiar to Tesla owners. And powering the infotainment system is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P processor, with Dongfeng Nissan putting a premium on processing power and advanced cabin functions.

"Developed and produced in China, it promises consumers in the world's largest automotive market a stress-free driving experience, superior comfort, and a suite of intelligent technology," the automaker says.

While the front fascia of the N7 will certainly remind EV shoppers of the Nissan Ariya, the rear styling features the now-trendy wraparound taillight bar, sitting just below the fastback rear glass. Pop-out door handles are a genre requirement as well now, and they give the sedan a sleek but somewhat slabby look with minimally sculpted doors.

Nissan is staying mum on the specs for now, with the model's debut at Auto Guangzhou focused on exterior design. So it remains to be seen just how close the N7 will land to the Model 3 or the ID.7 in range and price.

The priorities of EV sedan buyers in China, as well as the priorities of Nissan, are a little different than in other markets, so we probably won't see launch times in under four seconds.

But those interested in an Altima or Maxima-sized EV in North America will have to wait for some time, as Nissan hasn't made electric sedans a priority in its US EV strategy. The current tariff landscape would certainly bar the N7's export to the US, as a practical matter.

Nissan's Arc plan, revealed earlier this March, envisions seven new models in North America by 2026, but it's not clear whether this will include an electric sedan.

In all, the automaker plans to launch 30 new models globally by that year, with 16 of them slated to be electrified if not battery electric, placing a bet on plug-in hybrids and e-Power drivetrains.

In all, Nissan expects electrified models to represent 60% of its model mix by 2030, so it's not betting it all on EVs in the near term.

But the N7 falls into the painfully common industry category of electric sedans that are either not headed stateside or are significantly delayed, as Tesla continues to dominate the segment.

Should Nissan offer an electric sedan in North America in the next couple of years, aimed at the Tesla Model 3? Let us know what you think in the comments below.