Nissan's EV Architecture Can Support An Electric Pickup Truck
Nissan is knee-deep in a turnaround effort that will see it cut costs and introduce new models over the next few years. The automaker plans to release several new models, including up to five EVs , using its new scalable electric architecture.
Nissan is knee-deep in a turnaround effort that will see it cut costs and introduce new models over the next few years. The automaker plans to release several new models, including up to five EVs, using its new scalable electric architecture.
Ponz Pandikuthira, Nissan’s head of product planning in North America, told Automotive News that “The platform’s versatility and Nissan’s factory capacity in the U.S. open the door to partnership opportunities with another OEM to lower manufacturing costs.” Nissan’s new models will feature faster charging and better efficiency than its current EVs, and the first in the series is expected to be a crossover with shared Infiniti branding.
Pandikuthira also talked about a potential electric pickup, though he was clear that Nissan is only monitoring the market right now.
“There’s a growing niche of people who want an adventure vehicle but are environmentally conscious and don’t want to take a V8 off into the woods,” he said. “Do you have 100,000 of those willing to buy a Nissan electric truck? Doubtful. But that segment could grow, and we are keeping an eye on that.”
The automaker has shown electric truck concepts in the past, and Automotive News previously reported that one could arrive as soon as 2030. It’s expected to be a bit smaller than the Rivian R1T and will sport a unibody design, giving it a comfortable ride quality but more limited towing and payload numbers. That said, Nissan will likely offer a hybrid version of the midsize Frontier pickup within the next few years, giving buyers more options.
[Images: Nissan]
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