Mass Production of Retrofitted Electric Trucks in Japan

DOSHIN and Nissan Shatai report a 2026 rollout of mass-produced retrofitted electric trucks, converting diesel fleets to cut emissions and costs. Learn more.

Japanese logistics company DOSHIN and Nissan Shatai Group have agreed on a partnership that could significantly accelerate the electrification of heavy transport in Japan. Instead of developing brand-new electric truck models, the companies are focusing on a more practical route: mass conversion of existing diesel trucks into fully electric vehicles.

Under the agreement, DOSHIN will provide the production facility, while Nissan Shatai’s subsidiary Auto Works Kyoto will deliver engineering support, production technologies, and a quality control system. The basic contract was signed in late December 2025, and serial production is scheduled to begin in 2026.

The retrofit approach stands out as particularly relevant because heavy-duty electrification remains one of the most difficult challenges in the commercial vehicle industry. New electric trucks are expensive, while the expectations for range and reliability in freight operations remain high. In this environment, converting existing diesel fleets offers a faster and more cost-effective way to reduce emissions without forcing logistics operators into immediate full-scale fleet replacement.

The economic scale behind the initiative is also becoming clearer. Chinese supplier IAT Automobile Technology has reportedly secured an order linked to Doshin’s heavy-truck conversion program worth around JPY 6.8 billion (approximately USD 47.3 million), highlighting that the project is moving beyond limited pilot vehicles toward industrial volumes supported by a serious supply chain.

For Nissan Shatai, the partnership represents a chance to establish a foothold in the emerging niche of commercial transport electrification without waiting for mass demand for entirely new heavy-duty EV platforms. Auto Works Kyoto is already involved in other EV-related projects as well, including cooperation with Yamato Mobility & Mfg. on the electrification of the Nissan Atlas, where production targets of up to 500 units per year have been discussed.

As the original announcement suggests, upgrading heavy trucks through retrofitting may prove far more realistic than trying to replace entire fleets with new electric models overnight. If the DOSHIN and Nissan Shatai initiative can demonstrate consistent build quality and long-term durability, this production model could expand beyond Japan, especially in markets where environmental regulations on commercial transport continue to tighten.