Nissan Wants Hybrids to Be Its Primary Powertrain by 2030
The automaker plans to produce the Rogue Hybrid in Tennessee by 2028 and introduce a hybrid Kicks in the U.S.
Nissan Americas has outlined a strategy to make electrified models, specifically hybrids and extended-range EVs, its primary powertrain options in North America and Latin America by 2030.
What Happened
In a conversation with Automotive News, Nissan Americas Chairman Christian Meunier detailed plans to localize production of the Rogue Hybrid. While initial units will come from Japan, Nissan’s plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, is scheduled to begin manufacturing Rogue E-Power hybrids by 2028. The company also plans to introduce a hybrid version of the subcompact Kicks crossover to the U.S. market by 2028. Meunier stated that the Rogue E-Power should account for 30 to 40% of total Rogue sales “very quickly,” though no specific timeline was provided for that share.
Why It Matters
This shift represents a significant pivot for Nissan, which has historically had limited hybrid offerings in the U.S. compared to competitors like Toyota, Honda, Kia, and Hyundai, whose hybrid sales have grown due to reasonably priced options. By focusing on its E-Power series hybrids and upcoming EREV models, Nissan aims to capture market share in a segment where it has been largely absent, aside from discontinued models like the Altima and Infiniti QX60 hybrids. The move also highlights a continued reliance on gas power for electrification, as E-Power hybrids use small batteries that cannot support engine-off, full-EV commutes, while Nissan’s only current EV, the Leaf, lacks a confirmed successor in the U.S. following the cancellation of the Ariya.
The Bottom Line
Nissan is aggressively expanding its hybrid footprint in the Americas, targeting hybrids and EREVs as its main powertrains by 2030, with localized production of the Rogue Hybrid starting in Tennessee in 2028 and a hybrid Kicks arriving in the U.S. by the same year.
