A new rumor has it that Nissan may launch a compact electric bakkie.
A new report from the US suggests that Nissan may be looking for a new compact Bakkie to take under its Marginal supply. The new product is said to have an electric platform to complement the brand’s push towards an environmentally friendly product range.
According to a report by Automotive News, the Japanese manufacturer wants to merge its electrical and Bakkie portfolio and create a compact, lightweight electrical product for lifestyle-conscious consumers in the United States.
This new compact bakkie would sit just below the Navara and likely rival the recently revealed Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. That segment in the American market is a white space, but projections from HIS Markit data suggest that sales could rise to 99,000 units annually by 2023.
Judy Wheeler, Nissan Division Vice President of Sales and Regional Operations in the US, downplayed speculation about an electric compact bakkie, but didn’t rule out the idea. “There are all sorts of things going on, I don’t know that there is any serious discussion going on right now.” She said the publication.
“I could see this coming,” Wheeler said of an all-electric powertrain for a Bakkie. “The pick-up area is kind of interesting. There will be a consumer who is more looking for a lifestyle vehicle that they can put all their gear in and go off-road. “
Wheeler noted that Nissan was a pioneer in the electric vehicle space, launching the Leaf hatchback more than a decade ago. “We have this great base that we created with our consumers, our really strong dealer network that doesn’t just sell [EVs]but also have a service network, ”she said.
A compact bakkie would be a natural addition to Nissan, who introduced the segment to Americans and the rest of the world under the brand name Datsun in the 1960s.
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