“Instead of spending three or four years designing and developing a product, we are using our expertise beyond our R&D and manufacturing and showcasing our knowledge of selling EVs.”
Dunsmore points to various images of the S04 on display at the Acciona Campus in Madrid, headquarters of the energy conglomerate that owns Silence.
“Just look at the diversity,” he says. “You’ve got retirees, but you’ve also got young people, because the L6 S04 can be driven by 16-year-olds [in the UK], or 14- and 15-year-olds in Europe.
With the rising costs of insurance and driving lessons, only around one-third of 17- to 25-year-olds now have a driver’s licence – the lowest number since 2012.
“Car brands aren’t relevant to young people because there is no need for them to be,” continues Dunsmore. “The S04 is a way for us to put them in the driving seat, and to say we care about that demographic and we want them to be part of the Nissan family.”
We drove an early version of the S04 last year when it was sold in the UK by a licensed importer, and we were impressed by its refinement, kit roster and clever battery-swap technology.
After our test drive around Madrid, the S04 feels like a better alternative to the Citroën Ami thanks to its more advanced and accessible tech, plusher interior and surprising levels of practicality.
