Nissan's global portfolio will shrink from 56 to 45 models as the brand exits low-performing products.
The restructuring plan centres on three core product families and targets sales growth in Japan, the US, and China.
There are moments in a carmaker's history when a reset becomes inevitable. For Nissan, that moment appears to have arrived. The brand has confirmed that it will be discontinuing 11 models from its global line-up as part of a broader consolidation plan. This will see the global portfolio shrink from 56 models at present to 45 models in the near future.
The announcement was made alongside the unveiling of the new Juke EV and next-generation X-Trail, giving the restructuring a forward-looking context rather than simply a retreat from struggling segments.
Two Clear Strategies to Restore Financial Health
Cutting Underperformers and Backing Winning Families
Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa stated that the key motive behind the discontinuation of select models is to return to profitability "by streamlining the model line-up, from 56 to 45 models, by exiting low-performing products and re-investing in growth." Alongside trimming the range, the brand also plans to offer customers more powertrain options across its remaining models, which should make each vehicle work harder in its respective segment.
The second strategy involves "concentrating development on three product families, which will cover more than 80 percent of our volume," as Espinosa described it. Together, these two approaches are intended to optimise Nissan's investment and ensure development resources are directed where they matter most.
How Nissan Is Categorising Its Future Model Range
Four Tiers That Define What Stays and What Goes
Nissan's global line-up will be organised across four tiers, namely Heartbeat, Core, Growth, and Partner models. The Heartbeat tier will include names like the Leaf EV and Patrol SUV, while Core will comprise backbone models such as the X-Trail and Qashqai.
Models like the Elgrand MPV and Sakura Kei car fall under Growth, while nameplates like the Micra hatchback and Frontier Pro pick-up truck sit within the Partner category.
As for Infiniti, Nissan's premium sub-brand, Espinosa confirmed that it "remains an asset that we will cultivate and expand," with plans for four new models featuring diverse powertrain options, including a new midsize hybrid SUV, a performance-oriented V6 sedan, and two large hybrid frame-based SUVs.
The Markets That Will Shape Nissan's Recovery
Japan, the US, and China Identified as Lead Markets
Guillaume Cartier, Nissan's chief performance officer, stated that the brand organises its market strategy around lead markets, which are Japan, the United States, and China. These markets are expected to help deliver scale and relevance, whilst also providing product, technology, and industrial capability that can be leveraged globally.
Nissan hopes to achieve a sales target of 5.50 lakh units per year in Japan, 10 lakh units in the United States, and 10 lakh units in China by fiscal year 2030. Other important markets for the brand include Mexico, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and India, where Nissan currently sells just two models, the Magnite SUV and Gravite MPV.
It is a bold plan, and one that acknowledges hard truths. Whether the trimmed line-up and sharper focus can deliver the turnaround Nissan needs remains to be seen, but the direction of travel is, at the very least, resolute.
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