Nissan scraps planned EV saloons from US factories
According to a supplier memo dated 21 April seen by Automotive News, Nissan is re-evaluating the ‘development schedule’ for two battery-electric crossovers. The model codenamed PZ1K is now scheduled to enter production in January 2028, roughly a year later than initially planned. The planned sibling model from Infiniti, codenamed PZ1J, is expected to roll off the production line from May 2028 – with a delay of around four months.
Both crossovers are reportedly about the same size as the petrol-powered Rogue (sold as the X-Trail in Europe), but will offer interior space comparable to the larger Nissan Pathfinder thanks to a longer wheelbase and electric drivetrain. However, no technical details about the powertrains have been released so far.
While these two models will hit the market later than expected, three other EV projects have reportedly been scrapped altogether. Nissan confirmed to Automotive News that a subcompact electric crossover (codename PZ1L) has been removed from production plans for its US factories. The model was intended to be the successor to the Nissan Leaf – evolving from a compact car into a crossover. Nissan unveiled a concept version in Japan at the end of March.
The Leaf successor still appears to be in the pipeline for Japan and Europe. However, US production – where the first two Leaf generations were also built in Smyrna, Tennessee – has been dropped. Rumours to this effect first emerged in January. At the time, it was suggested that the PZ1L intended for North America might instead be produced in Sunderland, UK. Whether those plans still stand in light of new US auto tariffs remains unclear.
In addition, two electric saloons – one by Nissan and one by Infiniti – will no longer be launched. Infiniti even presented a concept of its electric saloon in 2023.
“In response to recent changes in industry market conditions, we have decided to revise our plans for the Canton EV family projects,” Nissan said in a statement sent to Automotive News. “We have made the decision to cancel development of the LZ1F/LZ1E [sedan] projects and to reassess them as part of a new vehicle program.”
As early as the beginning of April, there were reports suggesting that the development of both electric saloons could be put on hold. “The saloon market is shrinking,” Automotive News quotes Christian Meunier, Chair of Nissan Americas, as saying. “We need to face reality.”
Ponz Pandikuthira, Head of Product Planning for Nissan Americas and previously active at Nissan Europe for many years, stated that market launch plans ‘are up in the air’. This appears to be mainly due to the segments Nissan is targeting – segments in which the Japanese carmaker is already active in the US with models such as the Maxima and Altima. “Premium sedans are not our niche,” said Pandikuthira. “If the [electric] sedans start at $45,000-plus … you’re not in the core of the sedan market anymore.”
Nissan is currently undergoing a transformation, which is also leading to a re-evaluation of projects initiated under previous leadership. Following the unravelling of the Renault-Nissan alliance and failed merger talks with Honda, the manufacturer is now repositioning itself. In March, Spaniard Ivan Espinosa was appointed as the new CEO. Even before this, the Japanese company had announced it would cut 9,000 jobs and reduce production capacity.
At the Auto Shanghai, Nissan announced a billion-dollar investment in China – with a clear focus on electric vehicles. Whether Nissan can shoulder the investments required for electrification and software development on its own – while simultaneously restructuring its combustion engine business – remains in doubt.
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