Nissan says an all-new Navara will go on sale in Australia around 2026, and it will lean on Mitsubishi technology for electrification.
Guillaume Cartier, Nissan chairperson for AMIEO (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania), told media that while diesel will be the first cab off the rank for Navara, plug-in hybrid technology will follow thereafter.
“We are dealing with the regulatory aspect, to understand whether it will be passenger vehicle or SUV and how pickup will qualify within that. Which is in discussion,” said Mr Cartier.
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Current Nissan Navara
“We need to answer the regulation, but we need also to answer the customer. The way the pickup is used in Australia is totally different than elsewhere. Because some are using it for work and some for leisure.
“So we need to make sure that if we electrify, how we electrify. I think it will be a two-step approach, first with a PHEV solution, then later on with EV. That will be the two-step approach.”
When asked whether this PHEV solution would be a Mitsubishi-based one, Mr Cartier confirmed that it would be the quickest and easiest way to enable plug-in hybrid tech for the Navara.
“That’s what we’re looking at, but first it will be with a diesel approach,” he said.
Mitsubishi Triton
“On the first one we are with Mitsubishi… There is also technology we have in-house, which is solid-state battery, but that will take time.
“We are piloting at the end of 2024, but that is really the game-changer. If this technology is as successful as we’re believe, we can electrify cars that are today unable to be electrified.”
The next Navara is expected to share its platform with the new Mitsubishi Triton.
While Nissan has been rolling out e-Power hybrid technology across its SUV range, it hasn’t confirmed any plans to introduce this to the Navara.
Mitsubishi has mastered plug-in hybrid technology with vehicles like the Outlander PHEV and it’s likely that this will be the technology that makes its way into the Navara.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
This will give Nissan a rival to the upcoming BYD Shark and Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid utes.
But the battery technology will need to be supersized given the Outlander PHEV, a much lighter vehicle than a Navara, only has around 84km of driving range.
The BYD Shark features a 30kWh battery, whereas Outlander PHEV sits at around 20kWh.
Either way, it’s a big development for the Navara, but will come too late to take advantage of Australian Government tax subsidies for private novated leases unless the scheme is extended.
MORE: Everything Nissan Navara
