Nissan plans to regain footing in EV segment it pioneered

Jul 15, 2023

Nissan, an electric vehicle pioneer that has seen its early lead in the segment evaporate, will seek redemption with a fleet of high-performance, smartly designed battery models, including a fastback and lightweight pickup.

Nissan expects zero-emission vehicles to account for more than 40 percent of its U.S. sales by 2030.

To deliver more affordable EVs, the Japanese automaker is developing an integrated powertrain unit that is 10 percent smaller and costs 30 percent less to produce than its current hardware.

But Nissan is off to a sluggish start with its EV comeback in the U.S.

The heavily hyped Ariya electric crossover arrived in late 2022 — about a year behind schedule. Manufacturing problems this spring had Ariya production reportedly running at least a third below plan. Meanwhile, the Japan-made EV has been iced out of the $7,500 U.S. federal tax credit for EV purchases that is available to some U.S.-built competitors. In the first six months, Nissan delivered just 5,195 Ariyas in the U.S.

Elsewhere in the portfolio, Nissan is trimming combustion engine models to make room for EVs. Nissan ditches the Maxima this year, followed by the Titan in late 2024. But Nissan isn't ready to put the internal combustion engine on ice. Core models such as the Rogue and Pathfinder continue to receive redesigns.

Electric pickup: Nissan is planning a battery-powered, lightweight pickup for the U.S. for the decade's second half. It will slot below Nissan's Frontier midsize pickup. The new pickup could feature solid-state batteries that Nissan expects to commercialize by 2028. Nissan teased an outdoorsy activity vehicle concept called Surf-Out, with an open cabin-back for easy access to the pickup bed. It featured an advanced system of Nissan's e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive electric drivetrain.

Ariya: A next-gen awd version of the Rogue-size electric crossover arrived in the spring. Nissan anticipates the e-4ORCE variant to account for 60 percent of Ariya sales in the U.S. Nissan said e-4ORCE is a technological advancement over its awd system on some combustion engine models. The company said it is 50 percent faster at reacting to tire slippage and other road conditions.

The dual-motor Ariya is available in front-wheel drive or awd and delivers up to 304 miles of driving range. It features prominent front fenders, rear fender flares, slim LED headlights and a steeply raked C-pillar. A freshen is expected in 2026.

Electric crossover: Based on the CMF-EV platform underpinning the Ariya, the expected crossover will be similar to an Infiniti-branded model and likely will launch U.S. production in 2027.

Leaf: More than a decade after kick-starting the EV segment, Nissan will reincarnate the Leaf as a single-motor crossover coupe in the first half of 2025. The design is said to be a "radical departure" from the current hatchback Leaf and more similar to the recently redesigned Toyota Prius. Nissan teased the design in a sporty concept called the Chill-Out, built on the CMF-EV platform and featuring the dual-motor e-4ORCE awd system.

U.S. production of the current-generation Leaf will end mid-decade.

Electric sedan: A new battery-powered sedan will arrive in 2026 with a sloped rear window, long wheelbase and waistline, and newly designed grille, headlights and taillights. The performance EV sports a tapered front end and a raised rear with an integrated spoiler to maximize downforce. The Canton-made model will straddle the market served by the midsize Altima and full-size Maxima sedans.

Titan: Production of the full-size pickup ends late next year. Nissan does not plan a replacement.

Frontier: The midsize pickup, last redesigned for the 2022 model year, will be Nissan's sole truck model starting next year. A 3.8-liter direct-injection V-6 engine under the hood delivers 310 hp. A freshen planned for mid-decade is expected to give the truck a wider stance and a more rugged look, similar to the redesigned Toyota Tacoma. A redesign is possible in the second half of 2027.

Armada: A redesign next summer will trade the large SUV's thirsty V-8 for a more efficient V-6 twin-turbo and a power upgrade. The new model is bigger and more rugged looking with redesigned headlights and taillights. An all-new interior will include upgraded finishes, large screens and the latest driver-assist and convenience technology.

Pathfinder: An outdoorsy trim of the midsize crossover arrived last summer as the Pathfinder Rock Creek. It features off-road suspension, 18-inch beadlock-style wheels, all-terrain tires and a tubular roof rack. A minor freshen should arrive in late 2025 and an all-electric version will come in the decade's second half.

Murano: The midsize crossover — powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine — will receive a sleek and more aerodynamic redesign and go on sale by early 2025. The new Murano will ride on a revised version of Nissan's D platform and receive a four-cylinder turbo engine. Up front will be a new grid-like grille design, while the rear gets wider and sportier with a sloping back window.

Rogue: Nissan's bestseller gets freshened this year. It will be followed next year by an off-road trim similar to the Rock Creek package on the Pathfinder. A full redesign could come in 2027.

Kicks: The subcompact crossover gets awd and a larger engine with a redesign in the second quarter of 2024. The new Kicks is boxier, rides higher and is more like an SUV. It features slimmer headlights and taillights and brings Nissan's new grille design. Future versions might receive Nissan's e-Power serial-hybrid technology, available on the Kicks in other markets.

Maxima: Production of the flagship sedan, last redesigned in 2015, will end at the close of the current model year in August, according to AutoForecast Solutions.

GT-R: The halo sports car "Godzilla" received an update in the spring. For the 2024 model year, Nissan will dial up the car's performance looks with a rounded front fascia, stiffer rigidity and new carbon fiber seats. A sporty Nismo variant features a new rear wing design to maximize downforce. Also redesigned are the vehicle's front lip, rear diffuser and canards. A plug-in hybrid GT-R is under consideration for 2026.

Altima: Nissan's midsize sedan was freshened last fall, delivering an updated design, more standard safety features and new technology. The awd Altima has a choice of four-cylinder powerplants — a 2.0-liter Variable Compression Turbo or a 2.5-liter DOHC engine. Nissan is expected to discontinue the gasoline-powered Altima once production of the current generation ends mid-decade.

Sentra: The compact sedan received a light freshen for the 2024 model year. It features updated front fascia and headlights, a new continuously variable transmission and a stop-start system. The Sentra retains its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 149 hp. Nissan is considering a sporty version of the Sentra with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo engine that could arrive as early as 2025. The nameplate should get a redesign in 2026.

Z: The iconic sports car received a makeover last year — its first redesign since 2009. The seventh-generation Z produces 400 hp from a 3.0-liter turbocharged twin-turbo V-6 engine, an increase of 50 hp over the previous 370Z's output. A performance trim will arrive in the fall. It receives a 20 hp boost and Nismo-tuned suspension, brakes and bodywork.

Versa: The entry-level subcompact is unlikely to continue in the U.S. past its current life cycle, which ends mid-decade. Nissan plans to replace the lower-margin gasoline-powered model with more profitable, zero-emission vehicles.

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