Nissan’s Possible Entry into the EV Pickup Truck Segment

Photo Source: NISSAN

In the United States, Nissan currently offers the mid-size Frontier pickup truck and its full-size sibling, the Titan. Still, the larger variant has yet to make a significant breakthrough in a market swarmed by the likes of Ram, Chevrolet, and Ford. The product is intriguing, though it seems that the competition is too fierce. That does not, however, imply that the automaker has the intention of mutely accepting its fate without putting up a fight. 

According to a report derived from Automotive News, Nissan is seriously considering constructing an electric compact pickup truck for the United States. No official decision has been made, but the move could have significant beneficial effects. For example, a mid-size truck could fill the void left behind by the possible departure of the Titan but also sustain demand while simultaneously drawing brand-new customers to the brand.

Tyler Slade, the chairman of the Nissan Dealer Advisory Board, said to Automotive News that dealers want to see a mid-size electric pickup included in the automaker’s lineup. He continued by claiming that it would make perfect sense for Nissan to provide a vehicle similar to the Frontier in size. The company has always found more success with this pickup format, so it is familiar territory.

Cultivating Ideas

As of the 2022 model year, Automotive News announced that the Japanese company was contemplating the production of a pickup truck that would take the slot just below the Frontier. No further information was divulged about the automobile’s configuration at the time, so it was not explicitly stated that the automobile in question would be electric. Still, it is apparent that the notion of producing electric vehicles with a pickup platform was and is being taken into account at Nissan headquarters. 

Indeed, this is not the first time there have been sly indications of Nissan building a light-duty electric truck. The possibility has been left on the table with the recognition that it would be a savvy move on Nissan’s part to participate in a segment currently facing very little rivalry. It could easily be said that if the brand were to move swiftly with such a vehicle, it could undoubtedly reap the advantages of having a head start.

A Wide Open Market

Even though full-size electric trucks, the likes of which can be seen with the Rivian R1T and the Ford F-150 Lightning, have recently been starting to inundate the market, the fully electric compact and mid-size pickup trucks have remained mainly untouched gold mines of potential within the class. Even so, believing that other companies will not eventually strike at the first available opportunity would be a foolhardy assumption. Chevrolet, for example, is supposedly already delving into the idea of manufacturing an electric compact truck to siphon sales away from the hybrid Ford Maverick. 

As for the design that a small electric pickup truck could take, there is always the option to take the Surf-Out concept into account, which was presented in 2022 by Nissan. Regardless, it is still too early to determine if or when Nissan will mass produce a small electric pickup truck. However, if the prototypes showcased in the 2022 model year are anything to go by, they will surely be fantastical and remarkably futuristic in style. The manufacturer has also asserted that it wants to debut 15 new electric trims by 2030. Only time will tell whether an all-electric adaptation of the Frontier will be one of them.

Whichever strategy Nissan adopts, all we can do for now is be patient. In the meantime, please come by Ellicott City Nissan to look at the precursors of what could be Nissan’s future innovations. We want nothing more than for our customers to enjoy their shopping experience, so do not hesitate to ask for any help with financial needs or suggestions to make paying for a vehicle easier. Stop by right now and see what we can do for you.