New Delhi: Nissan is restructuring their entire operations, and the brand has confirmed that it will be discontinuing 11 of its models from its global lineup. The brand’s consolidation plan, which had been outlined by the international unveiling of the Juke EV and next-gen X-Trail hybrid, will see the brand’s line shorten from 56 models to 45 models in the near future.
Nissan’s main motive behind the discontinuation of certain 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,” as per Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa. The Japanese carmaker will also provide customers with more powertrain options for each of its models.
Espinosa said that the brand’s second strategy was “concentrating development on three product families, which will cover more than 80 per cent of our volume.” After these strategies, Nissan hopes to optimise their investment and development plans, which are based on market demand.
How Nissan will divide their global lineup
Nissan’s global line-up will comprise cars spread across four tiers, which are namely Heartbeat, Core, Growth and Partner models. ‘Heartbeat’ will have the likes of Patrol SUV and Leaf EV, while ‘Core’ comes with their backbones like the X-Trail and Qashqai. Models included in the ‘Growth’ include the Elgrand MPV and the Sakura Kei car. Mica and Frontier Pro pickup make for the ‘Parter’ category models.
Nissan is also hoping that models like the next-gen Skyline, X-Terra, X-Trail (Rogue) Hybrid and Juke EV will help solidify the brand’s place in respective markets. For Infinity, which is Nissan’s premium sub-brand, it is being seen as an asset that will be “cultivated and expanded”.
Apart from QX65, there will be “four new models with diverse powertrain options, including a new midsize hybrid SUV, a performance-oriented V6 sedan and two large hybrid frame-based SUVs,” as per Nissan CEO.