As Nissan pulls out of the Detroit-dominated full-size pickup phase subsequent yr, the Japanese automaker will refocus its consideration and assets right into a extra aggressive enviornment — midsize pickups.
However based on a provider memo obtained by sibling publication Automotive Information, manufacturing of the current-generation midsize Frontier at Nissan’s manufacturing unit in Canton, Miss., has been prolonged two years past its beforehand anticipated redesign, now carrying into the 2029 mannequin yr.
The earlier Frontier went 17 years earlier than present process its first main redesign in 2021.
Within the memo, Nissan did not supply suppliers a motive for the life cycle extension, however one provider briefed on the matter, who requested to not be recognized, informed Automotive Information that the beforehand deliberate changeover would have come simply because the Canton manufacturing unit is gearing as much as construct new Nissan and Infiniti electrical autos.
Nissan does not need “a serious mannequin launch throughout the time that they are beginning up” EV manufacturing, the supply stated.
It’s now unclear whether or not the pickup will obtain one other redesign, the individual stated.
One risk is that the Frontier will reemerge round 2030 as an electrical pickup, based on the provider.
A battery-powered truck might increase Nissan’s drive to reclaim relevance within the EV phase it pioneered greater than a decade in the past with the Leaf.
A Nissan spokesperson declined to touch upon future product plans.
AutoForecast Options Vice President Sam Fiorani stated Nissan is already complicating operations at Canton by rolling out a number of EVs over the subsequent few years.
“Pushing any electrical Frontier out past these new launches avoids additional confusion, as they should get these new merchandise onto sellers’ heaps as quickly as doable whereas preserving the standard up,” Fiorani stated.
Protecting the worthwhile gasoline-powered Frontier in the marketplace just a little longer additionally will generate income to assist Nissan put money into dear product electrification whereas permitting shopper demand for EVs to agency up.
Nissan is investing US$500 million on the 4.7 million-square-foot plant to initially construct 4 EVs.
Manufacturing of a pair of battery-powered sedans for Nissan and Infiniti is scheduled to launch in 2026. Output of a Nissan electrical crossover begins in early 2027, adopted by an Infiniti crossover a yr later, based on a timetable obtained by Automotive Information.
Delaying the pickup’s redesign “offers the market time to mature sufficient to permit an electrical Frontier to hit the bottom operating with excessive sufficient quantity to generate income,” Fiorani stated.
Final yr, Nissan offered 76,183 Frontiers in the US, up 26 per cent from 2021.
Canadian gross sales surge 196 per cent to five,075 final yr. It outsold the Ford Ranger and Jeep Gladiator.
The provider memo famous that Nissan plans to construct 81,339 Frontiers for the 2028 mannequin yr and 65,599 for the 2029 mannequin yr.
Nissan first hinted at a light-weight electrical pickup in 2021, when it revealed the outdoorsy exercise car idea known as Surf-Out.
That pickup featured an open-back cabin for simple entry to the mattress and a sophisticated system of Nissan’s e-4orce all-wheel-drive electrical drivetrain.
Hypothesis about Nissan’s battery-powered pickup comes as full-size pickup phase leaders Ford and Normal Motors electrify their iconic nameplates and EV kingpin Tesla readies to barrel into the high-margin phase with the Cybertruck.
But when the concept involves move, Nissan would purpose for affordability, urged Tyler Slade, working accomplice at Tim Dahle Nissan Southtowne in suburban Salt Lake Metropolis.
“They do not need to be within the Rivian or the Cybertruck house,” Slade stated. “They need to be within the reasonably priced US$40,000 vary.”
AutoPacific analyst Paul Waatti stated pricing will probably be important within the electrical midsize pickup house.
“The phase will probably be extremely contested,” Waatti stated. “A Nissan midsize EV pickup should pack a ton of worth and be positioned for mainstream affordability to retain visibility available in the market.”
A 2030 time-frame offers Nissan the runway for electrical powertrain and battery expertise to evolve and for prices to say no.
The brand new pickup might, for instance, function solid-state batteries, the holy grail of next-generation EVs. Nissan believes it could possibly ship a solid-state battery by 2028 that holds twice the power of a lithium ion battery, costs in one-third the time and reduces price sufficient to realize value parity with gasoline-powered autos.
Nissan plans to start pilot manufacturing of the superior batteries at its Yokohama Plant subsequent yr.
A high-volume, zero-emission pickup will probably be key to Nissan’s gross sales ambitions.
It can additionally assist Nissan meet tightening emissions requirements. The EPA proposes drastically lowered car emissions for automobiles and light-weight vans within the 2027-32 mannequin years.
“Vans, generally, are making [corporate average fuel economy] requirements tough for all OEMs,” Slade stated. “A approach to resolve that downside is to show the car electrical.”