Nissan’s latest round of strategy adjustments has claimed another casualty, and this time it’s the Ariya. Barely three years after launch, the electric crossover is already being scrubbed from the U.S. lineup for the 2026 model year, a move first outed in a dealer memo dug up by Autonews. When pressed, Nissan confirmed the decision.

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“Nissan is pausing production of the MY26 ARIYA for the U.S. market and reallocating resources to support the launch of the all-new 2026 LEAF, which will have the lowest starting MSRP out of all new EVs currently on sale in the U.S,” a spokesperson told us.

What About After 2026?

What happens beyond that date is anyone’s guess, though the odds don’t exactly promising. When asked whether the electric crossover might return for the 2027 model year, Nissan offered no commitment. “No decision has been made yet. We continue to monitor the market environment and will respond accordingly to ensure we are meeting consumer demand with the right line-up of electrified products,” the spokesperson said.

For anyone still eyeing an Ariya, dealer stock will remain until it runs out. Nissan also confirmed that existing owners will “continue to receive service, parts, and warranty coverage”, so support is not vanishing with the model.

Leaf Gets The Spotlight, Ariya Gets The Bill

When asked why the Ariya is being sidelined, Nissan pointed to changing conditions in the market. “The U.S. EV market is dynamic, and this is a proactive response to evolving consumer preferences. As demand grows for affordable and practical electrified vehicles, Nissan is leading with products that deliver both innovation and value. The all-new 2026 Leaf is key to meeting this demand,” the spokesperson said.

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Even so, we suspect that economic realities likely had as much influence as consumer taste. The federal EV tax credit is set to expire at the end of this month, pushing higher-priced models into a tougher corner. The Ariya also comes with an added cost problem: it is built in Japan, which means tariffs still apply, despite recent trade agreements trimming those duties to 15 percent.

The decision also appears to align with Nissan’s broader campaign to slim down operations as the company fights for survival after posting a record loss of roughly $5 billion for the financial year ending in April. That effort has intensified under new CEO Ivan Espinosa, who took over this past April. Measures have included workforce reductions in the tens of thousands, multiple plant closures, and a sweeping review of the global product portfolio, with every model now facing sharper scrutiny on profitability.

Ariya Still Pulls Its Weight

Despite all that, the Ariya has held a steady place in Nissan’s U.S. lineup – though no doubt helped by generous incentives that have inevitably weighed on the bottom line. In the first half of this year, 11,619 units were delivered, making it the company’s best-selling EV stateside and marking a 24.3 percent jump from the same period in 2024. By contrast, the outgoing Leaf managed 3,925 deliveries, which still represented a 28 percent increase year over year.