Latest news with #PZ1K
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nissan Kills EV Sedan Plans, Bets Big on SUVs Instead
Nissan has officially scrapped plans to build two electric sedans in the United States, one for its main brand and another for Infiniti. The vehicles were initially scheduled to be produced at the automaker's Canton, Mississippi, plant, with launches targeted initially for 2026 and 2027. But according to a leaked memo and confirmation from Nissan, those plans are now dead. The company cited both economic and strategic reasons for the pivot. "The sedan market is shrinking… we need to face reality," said Christian Meunier, Nissan's North American chairperson, in comments to Automotive News. The company's head of product planning, Ponz Pandikuthira, added that with EV battery costs still high, Nissan would have to price the sedans north of $45,000, out of reach for many of its core customers. Instead, Nissan says it's doubling down on what American buyers are actually asking for. 'Nissan is committed to delivering the right product, at the right time, in the right place, and at the right price," the Automaker wrote in a statement to Car and Driver. "We are actively listening to market data and, most importantly, to our customers. Both are signaling the need for us to reassess our EV offerings, prioritizing what our customers truly want — SUVs over sedans. Production will now focus on three fully electric SUV models, including versions for both Nissan and INFINITI, with manufacturing starting around mid-2028." The first of these vehicles is an Xterra-inspired electric SUV, codenamed PZ1K, which was previewed at a Nissan event in Japan. Originally expected in early 2027, production has now been pushed to January 2028. A luxury version under the Infiniti badge, codenamed PZ1J, will follow a few months later in May. A third electric model is also in the works, but Nissan hasn't revealed any details yet. While tariffs and supply chain issues have challenged the auto industry, Nissan's retreat from sedans appears to have been in motion well before the most recent disruptions. The company had already delayed its sedan timeline once in early 2024, and internal hesitation seems to have grown from there. Still, Nissan is optimistic about its U.S. manufacturing footprint. 'We're very fortunate to have a robust industrial footprint in the United States,' said Vinay Shahani, head of U.S. sales and marketing, to Motor1. That domestic base could give Nissan an edge as it pivots to SUV production amid shifting regulations and consumer preferences. The cancellation frees up resources for Nissan to focus on more profitable, in-demand segments. But with the new SUV lineup not arriving until 2028, there's a long road ahead. For now, Nissan is betting that rugged, electric crossovers — rather than sleek sedans — are the key to its EV future. Will that bet pay off? We'll find out in a few years.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nissan Abandons Plans for Two U.S.-Made EV Sedans and Eyes New SUV
has cancelled plans to build two electric sedans in the United States, according to a report from The automaker acknowledged that the sedan market in the U.S. is shrinking and that it likely would not have been able to bring the models to market at a low enough price. Instead, Nissan will shift its focus to starting production of the Xterra-inspired SUV shown last month. It appears Nissan did the math and decided that there's no money to be had in electric sedans—at least for the time being. The automaker has cancelled plans to bring two electric sedans to the United States, according to a new report from Automotive News. The report is based on an internal memo, dated April 21, that the outlet reviewed. Speaking to AN, Nissan's North American chairperson, Christian Meunier, said, "The sedan market is shrinking... we need to face reality." Part of the issue, according to Ponz Pandikuthira, Nissan's North America product planning chief, is the cost to develop and produce EV sedans. "Premium sedans are not our niche," Pandikuthira told AN. "If the [electric] sedans start at $45,000-plus... you're not in the core of the sedan market anymore." But for Nissan, the cost of the required batteries and technology would have put the new models out of reach of their usual customer base. Instead, the automaker is planning to focus on a new SUV that it will build in Mississippi. According to the AN report, the vehicle (codenamed PZ1K) is the same Xterra-inspired SUV the brand showed at an event in Japan last month. While production was originally scheduled to start in early 2027, the memo shows that it will instead start in January 2028. An Infiniti model, codenamed PZ1J, is also planned, but production for that won't start until May, some four months behind schedule. There are also plans for a third model, an unspecified EV, though the memo gave no hint at its identity or production timeline. Car and Driver reached out to Nissan to confirm the details reported by AN. We'll update this story if we get a response. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
