Nissan Wants to Build a New EV Adventure Truck Right Here in America
You'd be forgiven for forgetting that Nissan was the first automaker to put an electric vehicle into regular series production, with the first-generation Leaf that debuted in 2010. That early mover advantage hasn't exactly helped Nissan corner the market here in the United States since then — but that could change soon. Senior vice president and chief planning officer for Nissan Americas Ponz Pandikuthira told Automotive News that the brand's future EV platform will support up to five new models built right here in America — and crucially, this plan includes provisions for a new take on an electric pickup.
This particular new platform is centered around lower-cost lithium-ion batteries, and is separate from the solid-state battery-based setup that the brand hopes to roll out come 2028. That said, the brand does say that the new battery setup will provide faster charging times than current offerings; Nissan says it's has also developed more efficient motors, which will improve range figures. Production of the platform is set to take place at the brand's production facility in Canton, Mississippi, which could be a major boon, given the current tariff environment.
The automaker had initially planned to roll out a pair of electric sedans to replace the Maxima and Altima, but that's no longer in play; Pandikuthira noted that the market isn't hurting for sedans at the moment, especially not at a price point in the mid-$40,000 range. Instead, the first models to arrive will be a pair of crossovers under the Nissan and Infiniti brands, aiming right for the heart of the market.
'The C-segment in the crossover space is the ideal starting point for us,' Pandikuthira said. 'As a brand, it's also our strength.'
The pickup has yet to be officially green-lit, according to AN, which has been reporting on the rumors since 2021. The vehicle is described as a unibody platform machine that's smaller than the Rivian R1T, aimed at the weekend warrior more than the construction worker.
'There's a growing niche of people who want an adventure vehicle but are environmentally conscious and don't want to take a V-8 off into the woods,' Pandikuthira said. 'Do you have 100,000 of those willing to buy a Nissan electric truck? Doubtful. But that segment could grow, and we are keeping an eye on that.'
With the recent death of the Titan pickup, a new EV could help Nissan solidify its spot in the segment. That said, electric trucks have already proved to be a bit of a lightning rod among fans, owing in no small part to the high price tags we've grown accustomed to seeing on them. We'll have to wait for more information about this upcoming platform, which should come in the coming months as the brand starts to move towards production.
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