Nissan News

No doubt influenced by its successful Chinese joint-venture operations in an otherwise struggling global footprint, Nissan has announced its upcoming new vehicle platform will be optimised for ultra-fast development times. In comments quoted in Japan’s Kyodo, Nissan’s Deputy General Manager of Product Planning Hidemi Sasaki said the company’s new platform strategy would help Nissan “become a company that responds to changes and delivers good cars in a timely manner.” The new common platform will underpin an entire family of new SUVs and will shorten development time down to just over three years, according to Kyodo. Derivatives then based on this platform will have their subsequent development time shortened by 40 per cent. The new platform strategy will reportedly cover 80 per cent of the company’s global sales footprint, and will debut in the North American market. At this stage, it is unclear whether Nissan’s new platform will be a derivative of the current Common Module Family (CMF) architecture it shares with Renault, or an entirely self-developed platform. Regardless, there are several new products, including the next-generation X-Trail which are already plotted to launch on the existing CMF toolkit. Meanwhile, Nissan has been clear that products from its Chinese joint-venture, like the Frontier Pro PHEV and NX series SUVs will be exported for global consumption. The first of which in Australia will be the BYD Shark 6-rivalling Frontier Pro PHEV ute, which will be badged as the Navara Pro when it arrives locally in 2027. The new platform project is the next step for Nissan after its dramatic Re:Nissan project which saw the company close down some of its most historic factories, reduce its global footprint and headcount significantly and re-orient its resources in order to survive. Effectively a re-boot of the Nissan brand, recent developments also included re-negotiating its complex alliance with Renault and announcing further investments in next-generation products. Its short-term focus in Australia is on hybrids, which local executives say make up the bulk of Nissan’s opportunity locally. To that end, the brand has even cancelled plans to launch its new-generation Leaf EV, despite Nissan struggling to meet its commitments under our market’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) which impose a Euro-style penalty scheme for emissions. The Japanese giant has also not abandoned its more historic nameplates, betting heavily on a new-generation Nissan Patrol 4WD for Australia, and launching a majorly updated hybrid Kicks small SUV for right-hand drive markets, which could be on the radar for our market as a replacement for the slow-selling Juke. Regardless, the Nissan of 2028 could be significantly different from the Nissan of today as its rapid development cycles play out, the first of which will be the next-generation X-Trail due before the end of 2027.

Nissan’s new local boss has outlined the direction the brand will take in the face of increasingly strict emissions regulations and changing market forces. Nissan’s Managing Director for Oceania Steve Milette says the first priority for new models won’t be to simply meet emissions targets, but to provide products that customers are asking for. The brand has just confirmed it will launch the (already expected) Nissan Navara Pro PHEV ute in 2027, there’s also a new-generation Nissan X-Trail on the way for 2027. The pressure is on for Nissan to sell more efficient cars to customers, too, as it reached the second-highest place for NVES (New Vehicle Emissions Standard) fines in 2025, an amount totalling $10,763,050. CarsGuide asked if there’s a path out of the NVES challenges facing the brand and if a refresh of the brand’s line-up is on the cards as part of that. “In terms of product introductions, yeah, yeah, for sure,” Milette told CarsGuide. “We have a pipeline, a robust pipeline.” “We can't talk about the details of those products, but all I can say is, it's going to be positive for us because the product resonates with the needs of Australians, and especially from a diversity of powertrain.  “Not just the vehicles themselves and the segments they play in, but the diversity of powertrains.” With the new X-Trail and the Navara Pro, Nissan isn’t confirming a move into any new (or previously served) segments, meaning passenger cars may still not be part of Nissan's plan. “There's some dominant segments: medium SUV, obviously. The utility market, the ute market, is huge. And traditionally, we've been, you know, we've been pretty strong at the SUV segments in general, like from smaller to to Patrol size,” Milette said. “And so I think for us, you can expect that we're going to be introducing products in the big segments that really are aligned with our history in terms of what we stand for, like very capable SUVs, very capable four by fours, innovative in terms of powertrains.  “That's where we're going.” This could point to the Nissan Terrano plug-in hybrid 4WD, and several electric and range-extender or plug-in hybrid SUVs from China, such as the NX7 and NX8. This would give Nissan an answer to the Denza B5 4WD and Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid. Nissan’s new addition to the X-Trail line-up, a more efficient front-wheel drive version of the e-Power hybrid system, could be considered a move in the right direction for its daunting NVES fines, but Milette says that wasn’t the primary reason for it. “Two-wheel-drive e-Power is a positive contributor to NVES, but its main purpose is to meet a need of the market,” Milette told CarsGuide. “I mean, 25 per cent of the sales in Australia so far this year are hybrid. Half of those are two-wheel drive, so we've only participated in half of that.  “So I think from a consumer preference, now we're in all of that segment.” “But from an NVES perspective, I think the north star is that as a brand we become self-sufficient… the portfolio that balances the negatives with the positives, if you will.” If Nissan sells more low-emission hybrids and electric cars, it will reduce the total amount of fines brought on by its ‘dirtier’ models like its Navara ute and its petrol SUVs. For reference, its second place ($10,763,050) in the 2025 list of brand fines saw it behind Mazda’s whopping $25,425,850 but well ahead of Subaru's $6,981,750. “But until we get there, we're well aware that we'll have to trade for credits, and there are published numbers. Like you saw, it was a public number in 2025.  “All I can say is that that's not the real cost.” Brands that find themselves with credits (likely through selling mostly EVs) rather than fines can agree to sell those credits to brands that have racked up fines, though Milette didn’t specify where those credits would come from. “For us, it's ‘what does the consumer want?’ We have a very powerful brand in Patrol as an example. If consumers want to buy Patrols, and they do, we're going to sell them Patrols. “No matter what the NVES impact there might be.”

Nissan has confirmed the new-generation X-Trail mid-size SUV will launch locally late next year. This means that the Australian launch of the new-generation Nissan X-Trail will follow about 12 months after the US launch of the Rogue, which is the same car but with a different name. “This current generation that we’re in, I think we were two model years after the launch of the first left-hand drive ,” said Nissan Australian Managing Director Steve Milette to CarsGuide. “With the way the platform principles are now working at the global level from a product development , between the first left-hand drive and first right-hand drive, it’s been condensed quite significantly. “It’ll be a year or less, which is good news.” In contrast Nissan has taken more than two years to bring the Patrol to Australia after it went on sale in left-hand drive markets. Nissan already offers one e-Power hybrid-only model in Australia, the Qashqai small SUV, and it’s unclear whether the brand will expand this to include the X-Trail to further reduce the fleet CO2 emissions. “It’s a possibility,” said Milette when posed with the question. “I can’t confirm that that is definitely going to happen, but we know that the hybrid market has expanded globally, but especially here. “I would say even in our current-generation X-Trail, we’ve gone from very low percentages to now 33 per cent is e-Power, and by the end of December, it’ll be closer to 50 per cent.” At this stage Nissan Australia hasn’t confirmed the local specifications for the next-generation X-Trail, however the new US-specification Rogue gives an indication of what to expect. There’s a new e-Power hybrid powertrain that’s claimed to be quieter and more efficient. The dual-motor, all-wheel drive e-Power is also 11kW more powerful than the current version, with a total system output of 168kW. A 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine will also be offered as a pure-combustion engine option in the US. A version of this engine is already offered in the outgoing model. In addition to the e-Power hybrid all-wheel drive, the current, outgoing X-Trail is offered with a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine in Australia, as well as a new front-wheel drive e-Power hybrid powertrain. Nissan Corporate Executive of Family, Products & Components Strategy Richard Candler previously told CarsGuide there is a “very large amount of new”, despite still being underpinned by an iteration of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance CMF-CD platform the current model rides on, For example, the structure is claimed to be completely different and much stiffer than before. Additionally, there is a fresh design and a reworked strut front, multi-link rear suspension set-up with a wider track width. All Rogue trims feature 90-degree opening doors, LED headlights, dual 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and touchscreen multimedia system (14.3-inch on higher grades), a wireless charger, 64-colour interior ambient lighting, as well as multi-zone climate control.

A fix for a huge electric car problem is in the works. The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) has announced a $1.43 million investment into a national EV charging roadmap.  The EVC said in its 2026 State of EVs report that Australia still needs "substantial public charging investment”.  It called for better data on demand use, reliability and coverage, with Australia’s charging infrastructure conundrum more complex than merely installing more fast chargers.  The roadmap is expected to be finalised in mid-2027.  The $1.43 million is made up of funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) ($1.06 million) as well as contributions from the EVC and other project partners.  The roadmap will look at charging demand, pressure points and where greater coordination could inform investment decisions through to 2035. It aims to introduce a coordinated charging network for passenger cars and heavy vehicles in metropolitan and regional Australia.  “Other major EV markets have recognised the value of coordinated national planning,” EVC Chief Executive officer Julie Delvecchio said.  “This Roadmap will bring that to Australia, shaped around our distances, our electricity system and the needs of everything from passenger cars to heavy trucks.” Owning a petrol or diesel car is becoming more expensive in Australia, and buyers are making the switch to EV power.  The Tesla Model Y has consistently featured in the top five best-selling cars, and in June 2026, it achieved a recording-breaking 8072 sales.  The BYD Sealion 7 has also recorded a serious increase in sales as it provides tough competition for the Model Y, while Geely’s EX5 has had a bumper 2026.  The federal government is targeting 5 million electric cars on Aussie roads by 2035, which would require the total number of EVs on the road to increase tenfold. Electric cars are now among the cheapest on offer in Australia.  The BYD Atto 1 starts from $19,990, drive-away (until December 15, 2026), while the Geely EX2 is available from $26,490, before on-road costs.  The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) is helping to increase EV choices for buyers, with high-emission cars incurring hefty fines under the scheme. 

Nissan is on the cusp of unleashing a torrent of Chinese-sourced vehicles, and this could be one of the next to arrive. Nissan has just confirmed it will bring the Navara Pro plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute, which spawned from its partnership with China’s Dongfeng, to Australia next year. It has also hinted at more to come, with several prototypes undergoing testing in Australia. Nissan is preparing to launch the NX7 plug-in hybrid SUV in China later this year, which puts it on the timeline where it could be one of the prototypes testing Down Under. It has now been spotted testing in China. It looks typical of Chinese electric and PHEVs, with lots of rounded edges and a face that blends into a crowd. It measures 4785mm long, 1932mm wide and 1665mm tall, according to regulatory filings in China. This makes it longer and wider than its main rival, the Toyota RAV4. Underneath it features a monster circa-41kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, which is roughly double what is found in most mid-size PHEV SUVs currently on sale in Australia. There is no word on charging speeds, but it should have moderate DC fast-charging capabilities. It is claimed the battery provides an electric driving range of more than 200km, albeit via the more lenient Chinese test cycle, rather than the benchmark WLTP. It uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor, with combined power figures still under wraps. The Nissan Navara Pro PHEV is the first to come to Australia. It is a ladder-frame dual-cab ute with PHEV grunt. It uses a 2.0-litre petrol engine and electric motor that makes a combined 300kW and 800Nm. It has four-wheel drive, multiple drive modes, can tow up to 3500kg and a payload of up to 1000kg. It will spawn a SUV, dubbed Terrano, which is also likely to come to Australia. Nissan’s N-Series of SUVs are also possible starters with the NX7 and NX8 bigger brother. The NX8 is an range-extender hybrid (REEV), which means it only uses its petrol engine to charge its battery and the wheels are driven by electric motors. This gives it the driving prowess and instant torque of an EV, with the total driving range of a hybrid.

Nissan has just confirmed the launch of its first Chinese-sourced, joint-venture model in Australia and more models are in the plans. “We are working on business cases and I think we’ve been pretty open,” said Nissan Australia Managing Director Steve Milette to CarsGuide. “There’s a lot of vehicles that were revealed at the Auto China [motor show this year]. “I mean, we have our hand up for many of those and it’s just a matter of going through the proper business cases, just like we went through on the Navara Pro PHEV, but there definitely is a need for us to continue down the electrification of our portfolio and expanding the line-up and so more to come in the future.” Nissan engineers have conducted over 20,000km of local testing of the new Navara Pro PHEV since 2025 and Milette noted that prototypes of other Chinese Nissan vehicles are already being driven around in Australia. At this stage it’s unclear which Chinese-made models Nissan will bring to Australia next, but at the Auto China motor show earlier in 2026 it revealed the following vehicles: Nissan NX8 electric (EV) and range-extender (REEV) large SUV Nissan Terrano PHEV concept Nissan Urban SUV PHEV concept Nissan has since revealed the NX7 PHEV mid-size SUV, which is based on the Urban SUV PHEV concept. While a production version of the Terrano PHEV concept hasn’t been revealed yet, Nissan notes that it will be revealed before April 2027. A camouflaged, production-specification Nissan Terrano PHEV prototype was spied earlier this year and it’s understood to share many components and its body-on-frame platform with the Navara Pro PHEV dual-cab ute. This means the production-specification Terrano PHEV will likely have either a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol PHEV or 2.0-litre turbo-petrol PHEV, like the Navara Pro PHEV. The latter offers total system outputs of 300kW and 800Nm. It’s unclear whether any other powertrain options will be available in the Terrano. For reference, the Frontier Pro/Navara Pro is also offered with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel. If the Terrano PHEV comes to Australia, it will sit underneath the flagship Patrol. It will be a key rival to the likes of the GWM Tank 500 PHEV, Denza B5 and Denza B8, while also a rival to diesel alternatives like the Ford Everest and Toyota Prado. Beyond the Nissan Terrano PHEV, the Japanese carmaker has a series of other Chinese-made models that have previously been earmarked for a local launch. Examples include the Nissan NX8 electric and REEV large SUV, NX7 PHEV mid-size SUV, as well as the N7 electric sedan. The latter vehicle was most recently confirmed for a launch in the Philippines as the Primera EV earlier this year. Nissan has been ramping up the exports from its Chinese production facility which it operates as part of a joint-venture with Dongfeng.

Nissan Australia has confirmed it will not build a locally-fettled Warrior version of its new Navara dual-cab ute. A concept version of a new Navara Warrior was shown to Australian media in November 2025 when the current, D27-generation Navara was first revealed. Nissan claims it was around 70 to 80 per cent of the way through the development process. The plug was pulled after the ability to fast-track the new, Chinese-sourced Navara Pro PHEV became an option. Like all Nissan Warrior models, the D27-generation Navara Warrior concept was equipped with a series of upgrades to enhance its off-road capabilities. These included a suspension lift kit, aftermarket 17-inch wheels that provided wider track for increased stability and presence and 32-inch all-terrain tyres for improved clearances. Additionally there was a Warrior-specific bullbar, wheel arch flares, a multi-stage bash plate and two extra recovery points as well as aftermarket driving lights. At the reveal event last November, Nissan had only committed to creating the flagship Pro-4X Warrior, but it was looking to potentially introduce lower versions. Nissan’s off-road-oriented Warrior models have been developed in partnership with Melbourne-based engineering and manufacturing firm, Premcar, since 2019. The first Nissan Warrior model was the Navara N-Trek Warrior, which launched that year. It was replaced by the Navara Pro-4X Warrior in 2022. Later, the budget-oriented Navara SL Warrior joined the line-up. Premcar applied itself to the Y62 Patrol, creating the Patrol Warrior that launched in 2023. With the launch of both new-generation Navara and Patrol models, it’s unclear what the future of the Warrior nameplate is for now. Both the D27 Navara and Y63 Patrol offer off-road-oriented Pro-4X trims, but neither have been further tweaked by Premcar. The decision to shelve the D27-generation Navara Warrior follows Nissan fast-tracking the Navara Pro PHEV. This new, Chinese-sourced dual-cab ute is set to launch locally in 2027 and has been subjected to an “extensive” local development and evaluation program since 2025. Prototypes have already travelled over 20,000km on Australian soil. A new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol PHEV powertrain has been selected and tested for the Australian market. It produces total system outputs of 300kW and 800Nm. Additionally, Nissan is targeting a 3500kg braked towing capacity, as well as a payload capacity of approximately 1000kg.

Nissan Australia is, like many legacy brands, in the unenviable position of trying to tackle an increasingly volatile market that’s favouring newcomer brands from China. With a new Managing Director at the helm in Oceania, former Nissan Canada President Steve Milette, the brand’s next moves include ‘going back to basics’ to remind customers why they liked Nissan in the past, and what Nissan is bringing to the table in an increasingly electric market. But it’s not full-EV that Nissan’s got a key focus on just yet, after the long-serving Nissan Leaf and the low-volume Nissan Ariya, the brand is looking at tech it’s been using for years as a way to improve its positioning - including to bring down its potentially hefty NVES emissions fines. Nissan’s e-Power hybrid system has been around for a while, but the view from the top at the brand’s local arm is that Australians have perhaps not been properly introduced to the tech. The way e-Power works is as a series hybrid, which means the engine charges a battery and electric motors propel the car alone. It’s different to the more traditional parallel hybrid system, which involves the engine also helping power the wheels, as Toyota and Honda have been using for quite some time. Unfortunately for Nissan, it no longer has the upper-hand on series hybrid tech. When CarsGuide asked Milette, along with Nissan Australia’s Senior Manager of Corporate Communications Angus Thompson, if it was frustrating to see customers flock to newcomer brands offering an ‘EV driving experience in a hybrid’, the answer from both was an agreed ‘yes’. “I think it wasn't a wake up call,” Thompson told CarsGuide. “I think it was just something where we had to look at ourselves and say we need to do a better job of telling our story.” It lines up with a comment Milette had just made about Nissan Australia’s messaging when it comes to what e-Power is. “We were focused on ‘e-Power’ and forgetting the hybrid, and some people didn't really know what e-Power was, and so now we're trying to connect.  “I mean, in Australia, we're doing a mall tour. We're going through key cities, key malls, and it's all about ePower, and you know, explaining what it's all about and inviting them for test drives. “I think that's, again, back to my challenger mindset. We're going back to the basics.”

Nissan has confirmed it will launch the Navara Pro plug-in hybrid (PHEV) dual-cab ute in Australia in 2027. Dubbed the Nissan Frontier Pro in other markets, the Navara Pro will be Nissan’s first PHEV in Australia and shapes up as a key rival to the likes of the BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV and forthcoming Chery Stockman. The Nissan Navara Pro PHEV is the first Chinese-made Dongfeng joint-venture model to launch locally. It’s also the first time it’ll be offered in right-hand drive. Nissan has been testing Navara Pro PHEV prototypes locally since 2025 and what is set to be offered is a unique set-up. Final pricing and specifications will be confirmed closer to its launch. Nissan evaluated the globally announced 1.5-litre turbo-petrol PHEV powertrain, as well as a new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol PHEV powertrain in Australia. The latter has been selected for the Australian-specification Navara Pro PHEV. The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine has a 'high-output' electric motor integrated into an eight-speed automatic transmission, with total system outputs of 300kW and 800Nm. There is a four-wheel drive system with a series of drive and terrain modes. Nissan is targeting a 3500kg braked towing capacity with the Navara Pro PHEV, as well as a payload capacity of approximately 1000kg (both subject to final homologation). Nissan hasn’t confirmed the battery size of the Australian-specification Navara Pro PHEV. Globally there are 17kWh and 32.85kWh units available, but these are aligned with the smaller 1.5-litre turbo-petrol PHEV powertrain. As a result, the claimed EV range will be announced closer to the Navara Pro PHEV’s local launch. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) is set to be offered at an as yet unknown rate. This will allow for electrical appliances to be powered remotely. Final specifications are yet to be locked in, but Nissan notes available features, depending on the trim level, include a large central touchscreen, digital instrument cluster, panoramic glass sunroof, as well as heated and ventilated front seats. Nissan has been testing five examples of the Navara Pro PHEV in Australia since 2025 and they have collectively travelled more than 20,000km Down Under. The Japanese carmaker is yet to finalise the Aussie set-up and has evaluated leaf-spring and multi-link coil rear suspension configurations. The final suspension arrangement will be confirmed closer to the car's launch in 2027. Additionally, the Navara Pro PHEV’s powertrain, advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) calibrations, drive and terrain modes, tyres and differential lock configuration have all been evaluated locally. This is above and beyond towing and load performance testing in Australia. The Nissan Navara Pro PHEV is set to be the first Chinese-made Nissan offered in Australia. However, a series of other Chinese-made Nissans are made within its Dongfeng joint-venture operation. These include the N6 PHEV sedan, N7 electric sedan, NX7 PHEV SUV and NX8 electric and range-extender (REEV) SUV. None of these have been confirmed for right-hand drive production yet. The Navara Pro is also offered with regular turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel powertrains in other markets. It’s unclear whether any other Chinese-made Nissan models will come here, however Oceania has been identified as a key export market opportunity.

Nissan Australia is one of several legacy brands under pressure from changing market forces and new entrants to Australia, but its new Managing Director for Oceania isn’t worried about newcomers taking over. In the role since April is former Nissan Canada President Steve Milette, who was most recently the Vice President for Dealer Network Development, Customer Resources, Training and Customer Experience for Nissan and Infiniti in the US and Canada. He told CarsGuide that in his first few months in the top job for Nissan, he’s noticed how effective new entrants to the Australian market, especially from China, have been in terms of climbing the sales charts. He says after his time in Canada and the US, he was surprised how much ground new brands have made here compared to the “inexistent” presence of brands from China in North America. “But it is surprising, now it's not an overnight success. Like it's 10 years in the making for some of them,” Milette told CarsGuide. “Some of those brands have come and gone and come back, and so you'd think that consumers would remember that. You know that it could be temporary in nature.” Milette said despite the dramatic changes in the new car market, past crises and economic instability has often resulted in the car industry finding its way back to a familiar balance. “But I do think that there's like a perfect storm, right?  “Of the Iran crisis, if you will, the spike in fuel prices, the hyperinflation, rates were up again yesterday in Australia, and so it does create pressure on the consumer. “And at the initial stages of this Middle East crisis, there was not only fuel pricing up, but there could be a shortage of fuel, and so people just jumped. It was the perfect opportunity to jump into a relatively inexpensive EV from a new entrant.” The latest sales figures show Australians are not only moving their buying habits to new cars from China, but doing it in droves. Most new cars sold in Australia in September 2026 were from China, around 40,000 compared to the next-highest, around 23,000 from Japan. In the top 10 cars for that month, four came from Chinese brands and five were built in China. Four of September’s top 10 brands were also Chinese. But Milette says as the fuel crisis subsides and economic pressures change, people will revert to previous buying behaviours. “I do think all that will come back to the mean, I think crisis or history shows that they're always resolved, and everything reverts back to the mean.  “And so, I do think for me, it's just to continue pushing on the values that we have, and the vehicles that we have, and working closely with our dealers. And I think, you know, things are only going to go up for us here, from a business perspective in Australia.” The idea of dramatically changing market trends isn’t a reason to hit the emergency button and change the brand’s entire approach, says Milette.  In fact, he’s surprised there’s been a narrative around Nissan being one of the brands under the most pressure in the current new car industry climate. “I'd say from a sales perspective, obviously we're one of the brands that has decreased year over year,” Milette said. “I mean, if you look at you know the winners and losers, if you count sales volume as the criteria, most new entrants are at the top of the chart, and most legacy brands are at the bottom of the chart, and all of them, not just Nissan.  “Some are in worse shape than we are, but for us, what I've seen maybe that's different to… the markets I've come from… is the rhetoric around ‘hey is Nissan here to stay or what's happening with Nissan globally?’  “I had not heard that in Canada or the US in years, at least a couple years.  “You know, there are articles written sometimes about legacy OEMs having a hard time, and you know some are leaving, and then they'll show our logo. But the article had nothing to do with us, and so we need to break through that because we're not just here to survive; we're here to thrive as a company.”