JAPANESE car manufacturer Nissan has started production of new zero-emissions electric vehicles (EVs) at its Barcelona plant.

The e-NV200 vehicle – available as a light commercial van, passenger vehicle or taxi – will be shipped to countries across the globe.

Barcelona will also become the first city in the world to have electric taxis.

This follows Nissan’s €100m investment in the Barcelona plant, part of the company’s €431m Spanish operations investment.

Nissan chief planning officer Andy Palmer said: “This is a great day for the company, starting production of its second electric vehicle, and at a time when EVs are now recognised as mainstream technology.”

Nissan will initially export the e-NV200 to about 20 international markets, but plans to expand on this to support its growing electric vehicle strategy in the future.