Nissan is preparing to announce its largest financial loss in company history this month.
The automaker continues to struggle against fierce competition from Chinese EV rivals.
Last year, it was forced to shut down another underperforming production facility in China.
Nissan is reportedly preparing to shut down production at its plant in Wuhan, China, following dwindling production of the Ariya and X-Trail models built there. It is another blow for the Japanese automaker, coming just days after news broke that Nissan is bracing for the worst financial loss in its history.
News of Nissan’s plans first came from a local Chinese outlet. It’s understood that annual production at the plant has only hit 10,000 units since operations commenced in 2022. That’s pretty terrible, particularly since the plant has the capacity to build as many as 300,000 vehicles annually. Nissan is currently leasing the site from Dongfeng Motor.
Nissan’s Chinese Sales Were Way Off Target
According to Reuters, fierce competition from Chinese automakers has been a major factor behind Nissan’s underwhelming numbers. Domestic brands have surged ahead, leaving foreign companies like Nissan scrambling to keep up.
This isn’t the only Nissan plant in China that’s under serious pressure. In June last year, it closed its plant in Changzhou due to the jump in sales of Chinese EVs and dwindling demand for imported vehicles. This site had been operating alongside Dongfeng Motor since November 2020 and had the capacity to build 130,000 vehicles annually.
Nissan’s Is Between A Rock And A Hard Place
Nissan is in dire straits at the moment. We’re only a few months removed from its planned merger with Honda falling apart, and on May 13, it’s gearing up to release its full earnings report for the fiscal year that ended in March.
The forecast is grim. Last week, Nissan announced it expects to post a net loss of between ¥700 billion and ¥750 billion (roughly $4.91 billion to $5.26 billion), a massive jump from the ¥80 billion ($560 million) it had originally predicted.
Nissan is currently in survival mode and is implementing a massive restructuring. It has confirmed plans to cut 9,000 jobs, is closing plants, and has streamlined model lineups. It is also looking for a new partner, and could even join forces with Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn.
Nissan is currently in survival mode and is implementing a massive restructuring. It has confirmed plans to cut 9,000 jobs, is closing plants, and has streamlined model lineups. It is also looking for a new partner, and could even join forces with Taiwanese giant Foxconn.
Nissan will launch over 14 new and facelifted models over the next two years.
North America will get a new Leaf, a new Sentra, and no less than four SUVs.
Highlights from other markets include Micra and Juke EVs, minivans and pickups.
Nissan is having a rough go of it. Between plummeting sales, financial struggles, failed merger talks with Honda, and the resignation of its CEO, things aren’t exactly looking up. But rather than giving up, the Japanese automaker is making its move. With a fresh strategy in place, Nissan is gearing up to unveil a series of new and revamped models by 2027.
The brand’s revamped lineup will feature a mix of combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric powertrains. Nissan has already dropped teasers of several models set to roll out over the next two years, targeting various markets across the globe.
For North America, Nissan will roll out a batch of fresh cars, including new generations of the Nissan Leaf EV, the Sentra sedan, and the Rogue SUV, alongside a facelifted version of the Pathfinder.
The New Leaf Becomes A Crossover
First up, the Leaf. No longer a plain-Jane hatchback, the new version is going full crossover, complete with sleeker styling, 19-inch wheels, and a panoramic moonroof. It will be built on the CMF-EV platform, borrowed from the larger Ariya, and will have “significant range improvements” over its predecessor. Oh, and it will be the first Nissan to feature the NACS charging port, so it’s officially Tesla Supercharger-compatible.
It’s worth mentioning that the new Nissan Leaf will be a global offering, not just for North America. It will also be available in Europe, Japan, and Australia.
Rogue and Pathfinder Updates
The 2026 Nissan Rogue (aka the X-Trail in other markets) is getting a powertrain upgrade. It’ll be available in gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid versions. The e-Power hybrid, which uses a 1.5-liter engine that acts as a generator for the electric motor powering the wheels, is back for another round.
And in case you haven’t been paying attention, the Rogue PHEV will actually be a rebadged Mitsubishi Outlander. Yes, Nissan is using its Renault-Mitsubishi-Nissan alliance to repurpose a Mitsubishi design for this one. If you were hoping for something entirely new, you might want to adjust your expectations.
The Pathfinder, meanwhile, gets a mid-lifecycle facelift, with a new nose that should bring it into line with the rest of Nissan’s lineup. Expect that to be unveiled later this year.
New Sentra And More SUVs
Alongside it, a redesigned Sentra compact sedan will make its debut, with sharper looks that may or may not make you care more about compact sedans in general.
Finally, Nissan has also teased an “adventure-focused SUV” with an electric powertrain that will be manufactured at the Canton Mississippi plant in the US starting in 2027. The yet-unnamed model has a boxy stance and futuristic LEDs, and appears to be smaller than the Rogue and the Pathfinder.
Electric Micra and Juke for Europe
Over in Europe, Nissan is set to launch the fully electric Micra, which will finally get its production version after being teased since 2022. Sharing its underpinnings with the Renault R5 E-Tech, this little EV will likely appeal to those who want to go green while still having a cute, compact car to get around in.
Another important debut for Europe will be the fully electric version of the Nissan Juke, inspired by the Hyper Punk concept. The zero-emission subcompact SUV is different from the ICE-powered Juke, featuring a heavily sculpted bodywork while retaining some of its quirkiness.
In the same region, the Nissan Qashqai will receive the third-gen e-Power hybrid powertrain, which promises better fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.
A New Frontier / Navara For Latin America And A Different Pickup For Australia
Another notable debut is the new Navara/Frontier midsize pickup, set to arrive in 2026. Unfortunately, this rugged truck will be exclusive to Latin American markets (LATAM). From the teaser image, it appears to be a heavily redesigned version of the old Navara, boasting an “evolved design,” upgraded infotainment, and a promising suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).
The successor of the global-spec Nissan Navara will be a different model, sharing its underpinnings with the Mitsubishi Triton. This one is described as an “all-new one-ton pickup” that will be launched in Australia in 2026.
Indian-Built SUV And Minivan
Nissan is gearing up to launch two new models in India, both of which will be produced at the company’s Chennai factory for domestic sales and exports. First up is a budget-friendly minivan with crossover styling, set to debut in 2025.
This will be followed by a five-seater SUV in 2026, which will be Nissan’s version of the Dacia/Renault Duster, complete with a redesigned front end. Additionally, the company has announced a five-seater SUV for select African markets, though it’s unclear if it will share the same design as the India-bound model.
In Nissan’s home market of Japan, the company will release a facelifted kei car in 2025, along with a new generation of a large minivan featuring the latest hybrid powertrain in 2026.
Ivan Espinosa, Nissan’s current chief planning officer and future CEO, had this to say:
“Over the next two years, we are excited to roll out an impressive lineup that will redefine the road! This includes the reimagined Nissan LEAF, and a daring new Micra EV. But that’s not all – we’re refreshing our range of SUVs to elevate the driving experience, and our next-generation e-POWER promises new levels of refinement and efficiency. We are committed to investing in products that embody the very best of Nissan. To our passionate fans and loyal owners around the world, I can assure you, this is just the beginning of an exciting journey ahead.”
This story is part of Public Square, an occasional photography series highlighting how Wisconsin residents connect with their communities.
To suggest someone in your community for us to feature, email Joe Timmerman at jtimmerman@wisconsinwatch.org.
Aboard Amtrak’s Hiawatha service, quiet conversations complement the rumble of steel wheels maneuvering along the tracks.
A fresh layer of snow covers the ground while the train pulls away from the Milwaukee Intermodal Station, unraveling its cars from one Midwestern city toward another.
Passengers board the Amtrak Hiawatha Service on Dec. 19, 2024, at the Milwaukee Intermodal Station in Milwaukee.
The Amtrak Hiawatha service pulls away from the Milwaukee Intermodal Station on Dec. 19, 2024, in Milwaukee.
En route to Chicago Union Station, passengers ride along an Amtrak system forged by the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970, which sought to revitalize American train travel. In approving the law, Congress declared that “modern, efficient, intercity railroad passenger service is a necessary part of a balanced transportation system.”
Wisconsin operates three Amtrak routes: the Hiawatha, which runs a round-trip corridor service seven times daily between Chicago and Milwaukee; the Empire Builder, running one long-distance round trip each day between Chicago and Seattle or Portland; and the Borealis, a route added last May that runs one daily round trip between St. Paul, Milwaukee and Chicago.
In 2021, then-President Joe Biden signed into law the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which awarded $2.1 billion to Amtrak and its partners — the largest federal investment in public transit in history.
Wisconsin residents haven’t yet fully experienced the law’s effects, but plans are well underway. The law awarded the Wisconsin Department of Transportation four $500,000 grants through a federal Corridor Identification and Development Program.
These grants are funding research for a range of potential new services. Those include a proposed corridor connecting Milwaukee to Minneapolis through Madison and Eau Claire; an additional daily round trip between Chicago and St. Paul via La Crosse to complement the Empire Builder; and making the Hiawatha more frequent and extending its service to Green Bay.
Passengers purchase tickets inside the Milwaukee Intermodal Station on Dec. 19, 2024, in Milwaukee.
A passenger lifts luggage to the overhead racks after boarding the Amtrak Hiawatha service on Jan. 6, 2025, at Chicago Union Station in Chicago.
Kurt Pipenhagen, an Amtrak conductor, waits for passengers to board the Amtrak Hiawatha service, left, Jan. 6, 2025, at Chicago Union Station in Chicago.
An Amtrak Superliner long-distance train prepares to leave Chicago Union Station on Dec. 19, 2024, in Chicago.
In late December, I rode a sold-out Hiawatha train from Milwaukee to Chicago. The route is Amtrak’s busiest in the Midwest and the nation’s seventh-busiest.
I returned in early January, talking to passengers along the way for our latest edition of Public Square, a series highlighting how Wisconsin residents connect with their communities. I gathered a variety of perspectives about how people use passenger trains and on efforts to make them more accessible.
I heard from a range of people, including a Milwaukee college student riding home to Chicago and a trucker stranded on the first leg of a cross-country journey home for the holidays. All opted for the train instead of a car.
Amanda Simms, 28, of Philadelphia, speaks with the conductor about her ticket Dec. 19, 2024, while riding the Amtrak Hiawatha service from Milwaukee Intermodal Station to Chicago Union Station.
Amanda Simms, who works for a long-haul trucking company in Allenton, Wisconsin, didn’t initially plan to take Amtrak to see her family in Philadelphia over the holidays. But an eyesight issue prompted the 28-year-old to abandon her plans to make the 14-hour drive. Booking a flight wouldn’t have worked, due to high cost and baggage limits.
So she pivoted to rail. Simms felt positive in the early stage of her three-train, 20-plus-hour Amtrak experience.
“All the peace that you see, it’s quiet — it’s something different,” Simms said. “When I’m riding the train in the city, you see all the buildings and stuff, but to see it from this aspect it’s different. I’ll take this any day.”
Teni Fajemisin, 18, of Chicago, poses for a portrait on Dec. 19, 2024, while riding the Amtrak Hiawatha service from Milwaukee Intermodal Station to Chicago Union Station.
Sitting quietly alone a few rows away, Teni Fajemisin, 18, watched through the window as the train passed a blur of snow-covered trees. The Chicago native was heading home after finishing his first semester of a two-year program at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, where he said he has “met nice people” and contributes to a project that aims to build a new community center in Milwaukee’s Metcalfe Park neighborhood.
Fajemisin said riding the 90-minute Hiawatha route made the most sense since his dad works near Chicago Union Station.
Phillip Loan, 27, of Atlanta, looks out the window while posing for a portrait Jan. 6, 2025, while riding the Amtrak Hiawatha service from Chicago Union Station to the Milwaukee Intermodal Station.
While riding the Hiawatha back to Milwaukee a few weeks later, I spoke with Phillip Loan, who was riding in a business class seat, which offers extra legroom and footrests for a higher place. The 27-year–old Atlanta native was en route to a job interview at a Milwaukee hospital — hoping to become a Wisconsin resident.
Loan said Amtrak offered the cheapest option, and he said he’d consider riding again, particularly if the system improves the convenience and quality of the service. He mentioned the attractiveness of high-speed services in other countries, recounting an “awesome” experience riding between major cities while visiting Japan.
Icicles form on the outside of a train car Jan. 6, 2025, on the Amtrak Hiawatha service between Chicago Union Station and Milwaukee Intermodal Station.
Houses blur past outside the train window Jan. 6, 2025, on the Amtrak Hiawatha service between Chicago Union Station and Milwaukee Intermodal Station.
Research for an expansion in Wisconsin continues. Its prospects depend on the success of the Muskego Yard Freight Rail Bypass project, which would open up the shared tracks for Amtrak’s passenger trains to function more efficiently, state DOT Rail Chief Lisa Stern told WPR in October.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin last year announced a fresh $72.8 million in federal funding for the bypass project, with plans to begin construction in 2026.
Eric Courtney, an Amtrak conductor, leans out of an Amtrak Hiawatha service door upon reaching the final destination on Jan. 6, 2025, at the Milwaukee Intermodal Station in Milwaukee. Courtney says he has worked at Amtrak as a conductor for 16 years after moving to Wisconsin from Texas in 2005.
While the feasibility of expansion to cities like Madison, Green Bay and Eau Claire continues to be researched, the state DOT says it’s working to execute the grant agreement for the bypass project — aiming to make train travel in Wisconsin more accessible for riders like those I met.
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