Latest news with #NissanMotorCorporation
Newsweek
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
As Its Parent Company Stumbles, Infiniti Hopes to Shine
Infiniti, like its parent company Nissan Motor Corporation, is in the midst of a pivotal year. The premium arm of the Japanese company has fresh product to offer customers and a lineup that is bringing in more affluent buyers than ever before in North America. Deliveries of the redesigned, full-size, three-row Infiniti QX80 are ongoing and a refreshed QX60 is making its way to dealer lots nationwide. In the next fiscal year, Infiniti is expected to begin selling its new QX65 SUV, and two years later, an all-electric Infiniti SUV will come to market. "This is a very important year for Infiniti. We have now the QX80 at full speed. We're going to have QX80 for the full year," Tiago Castro, vice president of Infiniti Americas, told Newsweek. "We had the best-ever QX80 month in February and the best-ever March, which made the best-ever first quarter of the calendar year for QX80. So that tells me that we're building the momentum," he said. QX60, a midsize three-row SUV, is more popular with U.S. audiences in 2025 than the QX80. Its design and technology refresh is focused on lifting it in a fashion similar to the success the company has had with QX80. "What we're trying to do with QX60 with this refresh is bringing the design cues of QX80 into the QX60 so they're really showing that family resemblance. And then parallel to this, bring all the same technology, things like the Google infrastructure that supports our IT system that gives your ability to do so much with the Klipsch audio system with up to 20 speakers, which is pretty amazing," Castro said. The company will introduce Sport versions of both SUVs, a package that adds darkened fascia and wheels to the model in place of brighter finishes. Unique upholstery options and badging are also included. "These next few years are make-or-break for Infiniti. Once a legitimate contender in the U.S. luxury space, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s with performance-oriented sedans and a clear design identity, the brand has since lost momentum and market relevance. Years of underinvestment, shifting leadership, and an unclear product vision have left Infiniti struggling for identity in a crowded luxury market dominated by German, Korean, and even electric startups," Paul Waatti, director of industry analysis at AutoPacific, told Newsweek. Castro is relatively new to his role. He had one full day on the job before the Trump administration's first major tariff announcement. "It's been very educational," he said. Instead of standing still and taking time to settle into the role, Castro dove in and took immediate action. "I've been meeting with dealers throughout the country. We set up Zoom calls. I met over 20 of them the other day in Nashville. We had dinner with another ten," he said ahead of the New York International Auto Show in mid-April. He relayed that the dealers have expressed to him that the QX80 is "extremely exciting." Castro said: "It started to build momentum, and we needed to stay consistent, focused on that model to really create a halo for this brand. And, they believe the QX60 now has a lot more potential than we have shown [in the past]. So, we need to work together with the retailers to continue to consistently deliver results and build momentum and let customers know how great the product is, but more importantly, how great the client experience is." Reports late last year indicated that Nissan Motor Corp. was on the brink of bankruptcy. On May 13, the automaker revealed the Re:Nissan plan, a pathway forward to enhance performance and create a leaner, more agile business. There is considerable cost savings planned for the current fiscal year. This and future restructuring under the plan is expected to create "a framework to secure operating profitability and free cash flow in the automotive business by fiscal year 2026," the company said in a press release at the time. Despite the very public woes of Nissan Motor Corp., Castro said, "There's a lot of optimism. The new management team coming in with Christian Meunier [Nissan America's chairman who was appointed in January], who is extremely focused on product. He believes in Infiniti wholeheartedly, and the new [Nissan Motor Corp.] CEO Ivan Espinosa. In fact, Christian, Ivan and I worked together for three years in Brazil. So, we know each other well. Ivan is very aligned with this direction. So, we're going to build a product plan that will continue to build on the momentum." Grille of the 2026 Infiniti QX60. Grille of the 2026 Infiniti QX60. Infiniti Waatti said: "Compounding the challenge facing Infiniti is the instability of parent company Nissan. As Nissan battles global restructuring, resource constraints, and a still-fragile brand perception, Infiniti is left walking a tightrope—tasked with reinventing itself while relying on a parent brand fighting its own battles." "That said, the next phase offers a narrow but real opportunity. If Infiniti can capitalize on electrification, modern design, and an improved ownership experience, while finally delivering products that compete head-to-head with luxury stalwarts, it may reclaim relevance. But make no mistake: this is a final proving ground. There's little room left for incrementalism or misfires," he said.
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Nissan slashes 15% of its global work force as Japan automaker sinks into losses
Nissan is slashing about 15% of its global work force, or about 20,000 employees, as the Japanese automaker reported a loss for the fiscal year that just ended amid slipping vehicle sales in China and other nations. Nissan Motor Corporation said it will reduce the number of its auto plants to 10 from 17, under what it called its recovery plan to carry out 'decisive and bold actions to enhance performance and create a leaner, more resilient business that adapts quickly to market changes.' The Yokohama-based automaker said the U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on auto imports also hurt its results. Nissan is aiming to reduce its costs by 250 billion yen ($1.7 billion) during the next fiscal year compared to the fiscal 2024 results that just ended in March. Nissan racked up a loss of 670.9 billion yen ($4.5 billion) for the fiscal year through March, down from a 426.6 billion yen profit recorded the previous fiscal year. Restructuring costs also hit its bottom line. Chief Financial Officer Jeremie Papin told reporters 'the automaker faces serious challenges in achieving a turnaround, but stressed it has enough cash to do so'.
Motor Trend
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
2025 Nissan Kicks SR FWD First Test Review: Skipping AWD Has Never Been Easier
Pros Pleasant on-road manners Much quicker than AWD model Well equipped at price point Cons Troubling panic stop behavior So-so fuel economy Coarse-sounding engine Anyone else getting tired of gimmicks? Cars have gotten so good that automakers have had to resort to frivolities like massive screens that can play video games, light shows as you approach, and meditation chambers just to make their cars stand out against the competition. But what if all it takes to stand out is to be great at being completely normal and affordable? Enter the humble 2025 Nissan Kicks SR FWD. FWD or AWD? The 2025 Kicks sees the model transition to its second generation and benefit from a larger-displacement engine with vastly improved output. Power and torque are rated at 141 hp and 140 lb-ft over the prior model's 122 hp and 114 lb-ft. Weight is up, too; this front-wheel-drive model tips our scales at 3,133 pounds, whereas the old Kicks was a featherweight at 2,768 pounds. Still, the 2025 Kicks SR only has to haul around 22.2 pounds per horsepower while the old Kicks pulled 22.7, a marginal improvement but an improvement nonetheless. All-wheel-drive models are heavier, our last weighing 3,312 pounds. This translates to improved performance when launching the Kicks from a standstill. The 0–60-mph sprint takes 8.7 seconds. While not a scorching time, it beats the old model's 10.1-second best. The addition of the optional all-wheel drive slows the 2025 Kicks down, however. In our testing, the AWD model requires 10.4 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph—dragging the model backwards in performance. While the FWD Kicks is quicker (and cheaper!) than the all-wheel-drive variant, it performs slightly worse in other metrics. Braking is a weak spot. Around-town pedal feel is accurate with decent bite at the top of travel, but things get hairy under panic stopping. Medium to heavy use of the brakes causes the Kicks' rear to wobble left and right, with the torsion-beam rear suspension working hard to keep the small SUV from pitching forward. This bad behavior is due in part to 63 percent of the vehicle's mass being located up front, with only 37 percent in the rear. Slam on the brakes at 60 mph, and you'll come to a stop in 130 feet, which is poor performance for such a small vehicle. All-wheel-drive versions of the Kicks use independent rear suspension and work with a more balanced 61 percent front/39 percent rear weight distribution. Stopping distances improve to 127 feet, despite the weight gain from the AWD system, but more significant, the AWD Kicks merely teakettles forward rather than wiggling under braking. Differences on our figure-eight test circuit are marginal. This 2025 Nissan Kicks SR FWD runs the one-third-mile route in 28.1 seconds while the AWD variant needs 28.0 seconds. From a subjective perspective, the Kicks is fun to drive and handles well. Steering is direct, and it's easy to place the wheels where you want them. The SUV's lightweight body is nimble, exhibiting slight but well-controlled roll in the corners. If you like getting up to a bit of mischief on a twisty road, stability control is easy to disable and lets you drive this subcompact like it's an old-school front-drive hatchback. In day-to-day driving, the Kicks SR FWD can keep up with traffic from stoplight to stoplight and is quicker than before, but it still isn't what anyone would describe as powerful. You need to keep your foot in the throttle to get up to speed when merging onto a highway. Even though the engine lacks grunt, it likes to rev and happily stays in the powerband with the help of the Kicks' standard CVT. It makes a tinny racket while working hard, but once you've reached cruising speed, the four-banger quiets down. Suspension tuning is compliant over city streets, even without rear independent suspension, though the little crossover tends to struggle damping out the imperfections of a coarse road surface or quietly absorbing larger impacts. Underscoring the experience of driving the 2025 Nissan Kicks SR is its general ease of use. Although it's larger than its predecessor, a tight turning radius and good visibility give you the confidence to maneuver the small SUV through traffic. It's easy to parallel park the Kicks or squeeze the Nissan into a tight spot. Its performance doesn't excite, but its cheerful and pleasant demeanor takes some of the edge out of the daily commute. Is the 2025 Nissan Kicks SR FWD Good for Everyday Life? Essentially a high-riding hatchback, the redesigned Kicks wears a decidedly contemporary styling free of cartoonish accents like the ubiquitous unibrow lightbar that has permeated so much of today's automotive designs. Inside the cabin, the no-nonsense interior of our SR test car has a couple sporty accents like an orange garnish around the shifter, orange contrast stitching, and black leatherette seats with orange-patterned cloth inlays. Atop the Kicks SR's dashboard, there are two right-sized 12.3-inch screens perched atop a shelf of a soft material decorated with a pattern resembling carbon fiber. The displays are easy to navigate with clearly defined menus. We love that Nissan's user interface has togglable audio feedback that sounds like the classic Windows mouse click, a small delight for nerds like us. You still get lots of useful tech with the top-level SR trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay works seamlessly, and a charging pocket under the infotainment touchscreen lets you go cord free. A 360-degree camera view, enabled in reverse or at the touch of a button located next to the volume knob, shows a sharp overhead image of the Kicks for low-speed maneuvering precision. Our Kicks SR builds on the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite with adaptive cruise control and hands-on ProPilot Assist 1.0 lane following support. As the 1.0 version of Nissan's highway driving assistance, ProPilot Assist maintains distance well between the Kicks and the vehicle ahead, but we've had to correct the steering through tighter curves at highway speeds. The rest of the equipment works as advertised. Notably, the passive lane keeping assistant isn't overeager to step in when you're driving manually, a rarity in modern cars. We usually get so annoyed by lane keeping that we disable it altogether, but we left it on in the Kicks because it's helpful rather than intrusive. Instead of relying on frippery to make a jaw-dropping first impression, the Kicks is equipped with features that make life easier over the course of ownership. Buyers and lessees are sure to like the cleverly designed trunk, which has a two-stage cargo floor that can either make the storage space deeper or flush with the rear seat backs when they're folded flat. That very same cargo floor piece has a hinge in the center that folds up, allowing quick access to a secondary storage area that's large enough for the optional spare tire or several duffels. On the upper lip of the right and left side of the trunk space, there are hooks for hanging shopping bags so they don't flop around when you're driving home from the store. Side pockets can hold smaller items you don't want to be loose in the trunk. The trade-off is that the trunk isn't offered with a self-opening motor, so you must operate the hatch the old-fashioned way. We appreciate that Nissan places a small button that can lock and unlock the doors next to the trunk release. Our test car is equipped with the Premium package, which adds a bundle of upscale features like a panoramic moonroof, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated mirrors, rear floor heater ducts, remote engine start, and rain-sensing wipers. This suite is the only way to get the Kicks' flashiest option, a 10-speaker audio system from Bose with in-headrest speakers for the driver and passenger. The stereo is no gimmick; these speakers are high-quality and expose you to aspects of your favorite songs you may never have heard before. Consider the Premium package a worthwhile investment if you're considering the purchase of a Kicks. Sounds Good! How Much? This well-equipped Kicks has been accessorized with splash guards for $250, carpeted floormats and underfloor protection for $200, and two-tone Arctic Ice Blue Metallic and Super Black paint for $800, and the Premium package adds $1,950. In total, our test car stickers for $30,835, $1,500 less than it would with all-wheel drive. This price represents good value given the high level of equipment provided; buyers shouldn't feel like they're missing out on much when driving a 2025 Kicks. The top-level Kicks SR undercuts its rivals by a good margin. Starting at $27,570, the Kicks SR FWD also compares favorably to the nicest front-wheel-drive Honda HR-V, which begins at $30,895. Other rivals are even pricier. A top-level Kona Limited starts at $32,100, and the Volkswagen Taos SE Black, the most expensive trim available with FWD, starts at $32,025. These competitors have more second-row legroom and feel a smidge more upscale, but you save money and get near-equivalent features if you stick with Nissan's subcompact offering. Making a small, affordable car appealing to shoppers is a tough balancing act, but Nissan has done a great job doing just that with the 2025 Kicks SR FWD. As it turns out, a product designed to meet the needs of its buyers doesn't need gimmicks to shine.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nissan unveils all-new plug-in hybrid pickup at Auto Shanghai
Nissan Motor Corporation unveiled its all-new Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid (PHEV) pickup truck at the Auto Shanghai 2025 show this week, which the company said is one of nine new energy vehicle (NEV) models it plans to launch in China by mid-2027. It was displayed alongside the recently-unveiled Dongfeng Nissan N7 battery-powered sedan, which is scheduled to go on sale this month. The Japanese automaker confirmed that the Frontier Pro is its first-ever PHEV model and also its first electrified pickup truck. The model is scheduled to be launched in the Chinese market later this year and will also be available in other markets in Asia and elsewhere later on. The five-seater double-cab Frontier Pro was designed to be a dual-purpose pickup truck targeted at families 'seeking a vehicle that can comfortably and efficiently support their daily urban driving as well as weekend adventures beyond the city limits.' The company said it is styled around the concept of 'Rugged Tech,' with a modern exterior design 'that complements a spacious and refined interior.' The plug-in hybrid powertrain features a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a transmission-mounted, high-output electric motor. Combined, the system delivers over 300 Kw of power and up to 800 Nm of torque. The Chinese model is expected to deliver a range of up to 135 km in pure EV mode. All models will feature a 5-link rear suspension and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, which automatically controls torque distribution between the front and rear wheels. Off-road capability is supported by the availability of an electromechanical rear differential lock. It will be available with four drive modes: Hybrid, Pure electric, Performance, and Snow. The interior comes with heated and ventilated front seats with seat-back massage, a 10-inch LCD instrument panel and a 14.6-inch infotainment screen. "Nissan unveils all-new plug-in hybrid pickup at Auto Shanghai" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nissan's global vehicle sales fall 6% in January
Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Corporation reported a 6% year-on-year fall in global sales to 251,136 vehicles in January 2025, with domestic and overseas volumes both weaker. Sales in Japan fell by 3.3% to 39,682 units last month while overseas deliveries dropped by 6.4% to 211,454 units. The main reason for the global decline was China, where sales plunged by almost 31% to 45,418 units as competition from domestic manufacturers continued to intensify. Sales in Europe fell by 2.6% to 30,175 units, while sales in 'other' markets – mostly in Asia – fell by 6% to 39,827 units, with deliveries affected by last month's Lunar New Year holidays. Sales in North America rose by over 10% to 96,034 units, with US volumes rising by 14% to 67,938 units, Mexico 20,367 units (+1.5%) and Canada units (+3.2%). In terms of production, global volumes dropped by over 11% to 243,437 units, with output in Japan down by 4.5% at 52,112 units while overseas volumes dropped by 13% to 191,325 units. The struggling automaker hopes to rekindle takeover talks with Honda Motor after negotiations were called off at the end of January when they failed to agree terms. The company is mulling replacing its CEO, Makoto Uchida, as called for by Honda as a pre-requisite for takeover talks to resume. "Nissan's global vehicle sales fall 6% in January" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
