Nissan confirmed it’s once more delaying EV manufacturing at its Canton, Mississippi plant. Based on sources, it’s also dropping plans to construct an electrical SUV related in dimension to the Rogue Sport within the US.
Nissan cancels its smaller electrical SUV for the US
Though Nissan initially deliberate to start EV manufacturing at its Canton, Mississippi plant this 12 months, the corporate is pushing it again till no less than 2028.
Based on the Madison County Journal, a Nissan official confirmed the delay final week. Amanda Plecas, Senior Supervisor of Manufacturing and Labor Communications Nissan Group of the Americas, mentioned the corporate hopes to supply 5 EVs beginning in 2028.
“Nissan stays dedicated to the way forward for mobility and electrical automobile manufacturing,” Plecas mentioned. The official defined that the Canton plant will “rework right into a Nissan Clever Manufacturing unit” for EV manufacturing.
In February 2022, the corporate introduced a $500 million funding in Canton to construct two new Nissan and Infiniti EV fashions beginning in 2025.
The opposite three electrical fashions have been anticipated to be crossover or SUVs. Final Could, Nissan unveiled plans to construct a smaller electrical SUV, anticipated to sit down between the LEAF and Rogue, as its fifth EV in Mississippi.
A sepacharge report from Automotive Information means that this will not be the case. Sources mentioned Nissan notified suppliers that it wouldn’t be constructing the electrical SUV in Canton. Based on AutoForecast Options, the brand new EV will solely be constructed at Nissan’s Sunderland, UK plant.
Nissan spokesperson Brian Brockman mentioned the corporate is specializing in different EV initiatives in Canton that will promote higher.
Nissan, together with Infiniti, has watched its US market share dwindle to five.8%, down 2.1% over the previous 5 years, as per Automotive Information Analysis & Information Middle.
AutoForecast Options vp Sam Fiorani mentioned one other smaller electrical SUV from Nissan would solely add to an already crowded market with new fashions arriving from Hyundai, Kia, and Volkswagen.
Electrek’s Take
The information comes as Nissan struggles to maintain tempo not solely within the US however globally. The automaker introduced plans to workforce up with Honda to stay related as EV leaders like BYD and Tesla acquire market share.
Nissan bought simply over 31,000 EVs within the US final 12 months, together with 19,798 Ariya electrical SUVs and 11,226 LEAF fashions. Compared, Honda bought over 33,000 electrical Prologue SUVs within the US in 2024, and deliveries started in March.
The Ariya is already competing in opposition to high sellers just like the Tesla Mannequin Y and Hyundai IONIQ 5. With a wave of recent electrical SUVs gaining momentum within the US, together with the Chevy Equinox EV, Honda Prologue, and Kia EV9, Nissan can be late to an more and more crowded phase.
Nissan hopes its next-generation EVs, just like the upcoming LEAF, will assist flip issues round. Final week, we lastly caught a glimpse of the brand new Nissan LEAF testing within the US forward of its official debut (Test it out right here).
