Nissan's SUV future? 2023 Nissan Arizon revealed in China, but will Australia get an electric SUV like this?

While Australia awaits the arrival of Nissan’s electric SUV, the Ariya, China has been given a preview of an electric SUV built for its market in the form of the Arizon concept.

Built on the CMF-EV (Common Module Family) platform - which underpins two model from the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance: the Renault Mégane E-Tech and indeed the Nissan Ariya - the Arizon concept follows a formula many concepts for China have in the past.

It features sleek, pillarless design with a spacious interior and a minimalist dash with touchscreens and a steering yoke.

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Its doors open outward for easy access, and its four-seat layout chooses comfort over space efficiency.

It also is touted as a ‘software-defined vehicle’ (SDV) and as such features a ‘personal assistant’ called Eporo that is able to interact with passengers in a “human-like” manner.

While the Arizon in its current form won’t end up in production, Nissan’s COO, Ashwani Gupta, says China’s march forward in tech and electric car demand means the brand is focused on products that will meet the market’s needs.

“China is one of the most technologically sophisticated markets in the world. Market and customer needs are rapidly changing, making China a global driver of electrification as well as a leader in connected car services," Gupta said.

“There is a need for increased electrification and advanced sustainability in the market, and we are working hard to meet it.”

The Arizon features a sleek, pillarless design.

Given Nissan says the Arizon was “created by a Chinese team” and specifically as a “multifunctional partner for China’s drivers”, don’t expect to see a production model based on the electric SUV make it to markets outside of China.

As Nissan puts it, it was “imagined in China for Chinese customers”.