Gasgoo Daily: Dongfeng Nissan N7's 50,000th unit rolls off the line

With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

Dongfeng Nissan N7's 50,000th unit rolls off the line

Gasgoo has learned that the 50,000th unit of Dongfeng Nissan's mid-to-large all-electric sedan, the Nissan N7, has rolled off the line — making it the fastest JV-branded battery electric vehicle to reach this scale. Since its April launch, the N7 has rolled out five trims, priced from 119,900 yuan to 149,900 yuan. It secured 10,000 firm orders in the first 18 days and 20,000 within 50 days of launch.

The N7's 50,000th unit coming off the line means that in just 200 days on the market, this JV EV has turned into a breakout in its segment — its sharp positioning helping to reverse the slide in joint-venture new energy efforts.

Fifty thousand is more than a milestone; it's a litmus test for JV NEV scale-up capability. To match surging orders, Dongfeng Nissan's Wuhan plant moved to three shifts, the supply chain locked in 161 core suppliers, and key components were scheduled dynamically on an hour-by-hour basis — steps that cleared bottlenecks for deliveries.

On the market side, demand for the Nissan N7 has been strong. In August this year, N7 sales topped 10,000 units for the first time; by the end of October, cumulative sales reached 39,441 units, with monthly averages above 6,500.

On the channel front, Dongfeng Nissan has invested in 100 delivery centers and 500 retail centers, and introduced a startup-style setup that separates ordering, delivery and service. The average wait time has been cut to under two weeks, offering customers a smoother, easier experience.

Product-wise, the Nissan N7 is developed on Dongfeng Nissan's new Tianyan architecture, features a fresh interior and exterior design, and carries the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip plus Momenta's driver-assistance stack. All trims use a single-motor drivetrain. CLTC range reaches up to 635 km, and 3C fast charging is supported.

In the sub-200,000-yuan pure-EV bracket where domestic brands are pressing hard, the N7's 119,900 yuan to 149,900 yuan sticker, a four-item comfort package, and the perceived quality of a JV brand have opened a double gap on value and quality-for-price — validating the pivotal role of "local R&D + China-based supply chain" in JV transitions.

With the 50,000th unit off the line, the Nissan N7 is not only an icebreaker for JV electrification, but also a reference case for how legacy automakers can pivot in China.

Black Sesame Technologies partners with DeepRoute.ai to make assisted-driving tech more affordable

Black Sesame Technologies announced on December 12 that it have signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement with DeepRoute.ai that links them both commercially and financially. Under this arrangement, the partners will jointly develop next-generation assisted-driving solutions, combining their respective strengths to accelerate product innovation.

Under the terms of the deal, Black Sesame Technologies will supply its upcoming automotive-grade high-performance computing platform along with a complete development toolchain. DeepRoute.ai will adapt and optimize its advanced-driving algorithms to run natively on this chip architecture. Together, they plan to deliver an integrated “chip-plus-software” stack designed for mass-market deployment, a move that could help carmakers roll out higher-level assistance features at lower cost.

Porsche's 2026 all-electric Cayenne and Macan will support Apple Car Key

Porsche has announced that the all-electric Cayenne and Macan planned for 2026 will support Apple Car Key. Owners will be able to use an iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock the doors, open the tailgate and start the car — no physical key required.

The feature relies on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Ultra Wide Band (UWB) to ensure a stable, secure connection. Drivers won't need to take their phone out of a pocket or bag; the car will detect it and respond automatically, delivering an almost hands-free experience. The digital key is stored in Apple Wallet and can be shared with others via Messages or email.

To address concerns about device battery life, the system includes safeguards: even if an iPhone or Apple Watch shuts down after running out of power, its built-in power reserve mode will keep the digital key working so trips aren't disrupted.

Porsche has long been seen as a likely adopter of the technology, but only now has it specified the models and timing. The move underscores the brand's push to expand digital and connected features on its battery-electric lineup. The capability is expected to streamline day-to-day use and integrate with other in-car systems.