Nissan has been mulling an electrical pickup for some time, going again to the extremely futuristic Surf-Out idea from 2021. Nissan sellers within the U.S. requested for one two years later, after which the corporate entered talks with Fisker which may have led to an electrical Nissan truck if the troubled American startup hadn’t been headed for chapter.
In fact, Nissan can be in dire straits proper now. The Japanese automaker unsuccessfully tried to merge with Honda and later changed its CEO in an effort to save lots of itself. What’s extra, a blitz of latest merchandise is within the works, together with over 10 fashions for North America by the tip of the 2027 fiscal yr—superior ICE-powered autos, hybrids, plug-in hybrid and next-generation EVs.
Photograph: Nissan
Let’s concentrate on these EVs. From what we’ve heard and examine in latest days, a brand new electrical car platform may underpin as much as 5 new fashions together with crossovers, sedans and perhaps even a lightweight truck. All of them might be constructed within the U.S.—Nissan’s largest market globally—to be able to keep away from the dreaded import tariffs.
In an interview with Automotive Information, Nissan’s director of product planning for the Americas, Ponz Pandikuthira, talked about that this EV platform will concentrate on compact and adjoining segments with autos able to reaching a wider vary of shoppers, using next-generation motors and cheaper lithium-ion batteries.
There might be two crossovers (one bought beneath the Infiniti luxurious model), and at the least one in every of these fashions will launch in 2028. As beforehand reported, a contemporary, absolutely electrical interpretation of the Nissan Xterra seems to be coming. Manufacturing will happen in Canton, Mississippi.
Photograph: Nissan
That being mentioned, Nissan can be critically contemplating a small, battery-powered pickup that may be based mostly on the identical new EV platform—some kind of life-style car aimed on the “rising area of interest of people that need an journey car however are environmentally aware and don’t need to take a V8 off into the woods,” in accordance with Pandikuthira.
The Nissan exec hinted at the potential for sharing mentioned structure and Nissan’s U.S. factories with one other automaker in a transfer to decrease growth prices and scale manufacturing extra successfully. On that word, Nissan and Mitsubishi mentioned a couple of yr in the past that they might add to their partnership by engaged on a next-generation truck, though with plans on the time to construct it in Mexico. Totally electrical and plug-in hybrid variants have been mentioned to be thought of.
Along with Nissan, Kia’s making ready an electrical pickup for North America, too, because the Korean firm confirmed throughout its 2025 Investor Day presentation on Wednesday.
