Nissan to ‘maintain investing’ in truck phase amid EV push: government

After Nissan introduced plans to exit the full-size pickup phase in 2024, rumors have continued to flow into concerning the automaker’s consideration of a light-duty electrical truck. Whereas the Japanese automaker doesn’t count on to enter the electrical pickup market anytime quickly, firm executives say Nissan will finally have to go electrical within the truck phase.

Through the Japan Mobility Present on Wednesday, Nissan International Product Technique Government Ivan Espinosa instructed Automotive Information that the automaker plans to proceed investing in a future pickup. Nonetheless, Espinosa says an electrical pickup received’t hit the market anytime quickly — regardless of the corporate’s continued investments.

“One factor you may be positive about is we’re going to maintain investing within the truck phase,” Espinosa stated. “How can we evolve … is the query that we’re discussing internally. Finally, we must electrify the truck.”

Regardless of the statements, Espinosa refused to formally touch upon product plans. As a substitute, he pointed to the truth that U.S. automakers have been laborious to beat within the full-size pickup market.

“You’ve rivals doing 700,000 vans a yr,” Espinosa stated. “So it’s a little bit of a tough house to play now.”

Nissan offered 76,183 Frontier mid-size vans within the U.S. final yr, so a future electrical Frontier wouldn’t appear past the automaker’s long-term ambitions.

Nonetheless, electrical pickups received’t be the primary EVs to roll out, in response to Espinosa. Moreover, earlier rumors have steered that the automaker wouldn’t carry an electrical pickup to market till 2030.

“The demand for electrification is concentrating right now far more on the C-SUV and D-SUV [segments],” Espinosa added. “These are those that you’ll begin seeing rolling into first. And I see vans just a little bit on the later stage.”

I actually hope the way forward for automobiles is definitely near the idea automobiles huge auto makes. Have a look at this Nissan automotive simply unveiled right here in Tokyo. #nissan #JapanMoblityShow pic.twitter.com/Nwga7qTrV1

— WHAT’S INSIDE? (@whatsinside) October 25, 2023

The statements come as the electrical pickup phase emerges with new contributions just like the Rivian R1T and the forthcoming Tesla Cybertruck, in addition to bigger electrified vans from Ford, Chevrolet and GMC, amongst others. It additionally comes as Nissan has unveiled a number of idea EVs at Japan Mobility, together with the above-pictured Nissan Hyper Power.

Together with ending manufacturing of the Titan in 2024, Nissan has introduced plans to section out the Leaf electrical automobile (EV), which was one of many earliest battery-electric automobiles to be launched to international markets.

The automaker has additionally confronted manufacturing stalls and different points with the manufacturing of the Nissan Ariya, although it elevated the variety of EVs it hopes to debut by 2030 to 19 from 15 earlier this yr.

With plans to make 40 % of its gross sales totally electrical within the U.S. by 2030 and a renewed ambition within the EV house, many have speculated across the topic of an electrical pickup from the automaker. Nissan was additionally reportedly contemplating the thought of a Titan EV again in 2020, although the automaker will now exit the full-size pickup market with the Titan ending manufacturing subsequent yr.

Nissan Seller Board Chairman Tyler Slade instructed Automotive Information a number of months in the past that the automaker would need to make a $40,000 electrical pickup slightly than competing immediately with dearer, bigger EV vans.

“They don’t need to be within the Rivian or the [Tesla] Cybertruck house,” Slade stated. “They need to be within the reasonably priced $40,000 vary.”

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Nissan to ‘maintain investing’ in truck phase amid EV push: government