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Nissan has become the latest car manufacturer to announce a new focus on hybrid vehicles with the company’s global boss declaring a “full blast” of new models to come.
Speaking to industry publication Automotive News at Nissan's headquarters in Japan last week the company's CEO Ivan Espinosa said that while sales have been flat a host of new products are about to be launched.
“Next year we should be in a position to grow our sales,” Espinosa told Automotive News.
“The fact that we have these new product lines coming in and having a full blast next year is definitely something that’s going to help.”
Espinosa said Hybrid variants would be offered across Nissan’s range including the possibility of a V6 hybrid.
“We should see offers in the C segment (medium sized vehicles), in the D segment (large), and likely in the B (small) segment. We see the hybridisation accelerating very quickly,”
Espinoza also announced that Nissan’s production facilities in the United States will continue to operate due to the new tariffs and regulations overseas carmakers now face. Nissan has three plants in the US, which make the X-Trail and Pathfinder SUVs and others.
“It will not make a lot of sense to stop a plant in the US when you have tariffs,” Espinosa said.
Nissan has been struggling with profitability and closing the US plants was a possible way to cut costs but those plans appear to be on hold now and in a fortunate turn of events the factories have become advantageous to the company.
“What could have been seen as a problem 18 months ago, is now a strength that we have because of the presence and the capability that we have,” he said. “It’s a good position to be in.”
Nissan has faced major financial difficulties in recent years. In May this year Nissan posted a loss of A$7B for 2025. The shortfall prompted the company to undergo an emergency restructure with potentially 11,000 job cuts and the closure of plants.
Espinsosa became Nissan’s CEO in April 2025 and is faced with the considerable challenge to turn the company’s fortunes around and that may see joint ventures with other car makers.
Only last week Espinosa announced he was looking at the co-development of engines with Honda.
In Australia, Nissan has two hybrid vehicles already on sale — X-Trail e-Power and Qashqai e-Power.
Subaru also recently announced a focus on hybrid vehicles and a step back from its massive electric vehicle plans.
