YOKOHAMA, Japan, Sept 28 (Reuters) – Nissan will launch the Rogue e-Power hybrid in the US in November as it aims for hybrid vehicles to “very quickly” account for 30% to 40% of total C-segment mid-sized car sales in that market, Nissan Americas Chairman Christian Meunier said on Monday.
• The Japanese automaker has sold more than 2 million e-Power vehicles globally, but the technology has not previously been available in the US, Meunier told reporters during a media briefing at Nissan’s headquarters in Yokohama.
• Nissan plans to bring the more compact Kicks e-Power hybrid to the US and Canada “as soon as possible” and seeks to offer hybrid powertrains in larger SUV models and pickup trucks in the future, he said.
• Nissan is targeting 80% localisation of US manufacturing by the end of 2030, up from about 65% currently and 40% before US tariffs were imposed in early 2025, Meunier said.
• US production of the Rogue e-Power could begin as early as 2028, he said.
• Meunier said he did not expect the US market to open to Chinese automakers over the next five years, saying most automakers were strongly opposed to such a move because of concerns over low-priced Chinese competition.
• Nissan is nevertheless preparing for the eventual arrival of Chinese automakers in the US by shortening vehicle development cycles and reducing costs, he added.
• The car maker plans to launch the China-made Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid pickup in Mexico and some Latin American markets, he said.
(Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
