Nissan has been struggling financially. Headlines have swirled about potential partnerships and mergers with Honda and other Japanese automakers. The brand urgently needs a fresh start under its new CEO. And it looks like Nissan is about to get it with what the lineup desperately needs: a wave of new products. Nissan announced a new (and remarkably better-looking) Leaf EV and a plug-in hybrid Rogue. And a boxy-looking crossover in the background definitely looks like it could be a new Xterra.
Unfortunately, Nissan’s product plans did not mention a potential future EV that we’re excited about: an electric pickup.
Nissan Has Reportedly Been Exploring An Electric Pickup
Nissan has not officially confirmed that an electric pickup will be coming. But there have been rumblings about either an electric replacement for the Frontier or a new compact pickup. Automotive News floated the idea of an electric truck to replace the Frontier after 2030. The head of Nissan’s dealer advisory board said the brand was considering an electric “lightweight” truck. A Nissan executive also threw out some electrified ideas for the Frontier in the future, including an EREV electric truck setup or a hybrid powertrain.
Nissan Did Release An Electric Truck Concept
In 2023, Nissan revealed a quartet of EV concepts. One, the Surf Out, was a small electric pickup. Nissan did not get too in the weeds with the details. However, the brand said the concept included Advanced e-4orce AWD, off-road performance, extended cargo space, and a vehicle-to-load power setup for the bed.
Not all concepts herald new production vehicles; Nissan concepts in recent years have included a wearable car. However, the new Nissan Leaf resembles the Chill Out concept that the brand revealed with the Surf Out.
Key Takeaways
- Nissan unveiled a lineup of future vehicles
- The lineup included a new Nissan Leaf but not a rumored electric pickup
- Nissan execs and dealers have raised the idea of an electric pickup
- Nissan previously previewed an electric pickup with the Surf Out concept
- An EV truck may have to wait until the current Frontier departs
TopSpeed’s Take
Nissan may be exploring ways to build an electric truck. But a delay in bringing one to market is understandable. Keeping the current Frontier in the lineup right now is a no-brainer. The midsize truck may be dated compared to competitors. But dated also means rugged old-school charm and a big 3.8-liter V6 pumping out 310 HP. The Frontier is a reliable seller for Nissan — sales were up 17 percent year over year in 2024 — and turns profits.
As much as we’d love an electric pickup, Nissan has more pressing priorities. And the brand isn’t in a position to make a bold play into what’s basically a whitespace segment currently consisting of the smaller-than-full-size Rivian R1T and a vague Toyota silhouette.
Read the full article here
