Nissan Partners with BYD to Meet EU Fleet Emission Targets and Avoid Regulatory Fines

日産 has joined forces with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD in a carbon pooling arrangement to meet the European Union’s 2025–2027 fleet emission targets, avoiding potentially billions in fines [1][2]. The deal allows Nissan to offset its higher emissions with BYD’s all-electric fleet under an EU-sanctioned system that lets automakers average their carbon footprints.

The new partnership marks a shift from Nissan’s previous pooling agreement with Renault and Mitsubishi, which expired at the end of 2024. According to EU filings, Nissan selected BYD “after a thorough evaluation of potential partners due to the availability of credits and overall competitiveness” [1].

Under the EU’s updated framework, carmakers can now calculate emissions over a three-year compliance cycle rather than annually, providing more flexibility as they transition to electrification. However, automakers must form pools by the end of 2025 to remain compliant [1].

Nissan’s collaboration with BYD reflects the automaker’s struggle to meet carbon targets amid its slow shift to EVs. In the first eight months of 2025, only 6.5% of Nissan’s European sales were electric, while BYD sold 95,000 vehicles, 60% of which were fully electric [1]. Pooling with BYD dramatically lowers Nissan’s fleet average, keeping it below the EU limit of 93.6g CO₂/km and avoiding fines that could total up to €15 billion (£13 billion) across the industry [2].

The move underscores Europe’s growing dependence on Chinese EV makers to meet decarbonization goals. While BYD’s zero-emission portfolio provides immediate compliance benefits, critics warn that pooling arrangements risk delaying the transition to fully electric fleets. “It risks delaying the transition from legacy cars to EVs,” said Fredrik Eklund, head of carbon credits trading at Polestar [2].

For Nissan, the deal offers short-term regulatory relief but also highlights the strategic tension between compliance-driven partnerships and long-term electrification investment. As the EU tightens its climate targets, automakers’ ability to balance emissions accounting with genuine transformation will determine their competitiveness in Europe’s rapidly evolving EV market [1][2].

参考文献
[1] ESG News. Nissan Joins CO₂ Pool with BYD to Meet EU Fleet Emission Targets. Retrieved from https://esgnews.com/nissan-joins-co₂-pool-with-byd-to-meet-eu-fleet-emission-targets/

[2] The Guardian. Nissan pools carbon emissions with electric vehicle maker BYD to avoid EU penalties. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/27/nissan-carbon-emissions-byd-electric-vehicle-maker-avoid-eu-penalties