Nissan Is Cutting 11 Models as It Tries to Turn Itself Around
Nissan has been in turmoil for some time, and when negotiations to merge with Honda fell through, it looked as if its end was on the horizon, but CEO Ivan Espinosa hasn't been idle since his appointment just over a year ago. Nissan just announced a new Nissan Skyline, revealed an all-new Juke EV, and presented the 2027 Rogue Hybrid. The Japanese automaker has also teased the return of the Xterra SUV, but it's not endlessly adding to its portfolio and actually intends to reduce it from 56 models to just 45, cutting 11 vehicles that are no longer deemed worthwhile.
A New Strategy for Various Segments
Nissan did not specify which vehicles would be cut, only saying the culling would target "low-performing models," but Nissan's early 2026 sales figures reveal that cars like the Versa, Sentra, Altima, and Maxima are not selling in strong numbers, partly because some of them are just too old. The Nissan Z and GT-R are not selling in huge numbers either, but the former has been updated for 2027 and was named as part of Nissan's Heartbeat lineup (more on that momentarily), and while the GT-R wasn't mentioned in Nissan's future lineup, we know a new one is coming.
Saving money on underperforming vehicles will allow Nissan to invest in diversifying its powertrain offerings for the nameplates that remain and the new models that will be added. For example, the new Xterra will get V6 and hybrid options. That brings us to how Nissan plans to move forward.
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Nissan intends to divide future products into four clearly defined categories: Heartbeat, Core, Growth, and Partner. The Xterra and the new Skyline will be grouped with the Z, Leaf, and Patrol as Heartbeat models, while the Core lineup will include the Juke EV, the new Rogue Hybrid e-Power, and the Sentra. It also includes the second-gen Juke, which will continue to be sold as a hybrid, and the Qashqai and Versa. These nameplates have become known for good value, so it makes sense to keep them around, particularly for the U.S. market. The other two categories, however, don't concern Americans right now. Infiniti does, though.
Nissan Seeks Growth and Collaboration Abroad, Infiniti Will Expand
The Growth models include the Elgrand minivan and the Sakura electric kei car, but Nissan hasn't shown what else will fall into this category. That said, the two models just mentioned are aimed at the Japanese domestic market, so it's safe to assume that other members are likely to be JDM models, too. Finally, Nissan's Partner category refers to vehicles produced in collaboration with other automakers, like the Micra EV, which is based on the Renault 5, or the Chinese-market Frontier PHEV pickup, based on the Dongfeng Z9.
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As for luxury arm Infiniti, Nissan plans four new models. These will include a midsize hybrid SUV, two ladder-frame hybrid SUVs, and a performance V6 sedan, expected to be a fancier take on the Skyline mentioned earlier. We also know that Infiniti is interested in a high-performance SUV to rival the Cadillac Escalade V, and the recently unveiled QX65 is likely to get a Red Sport variant, too.
With these plans, Nissan seems to finally have a clear direction, one that will allow it to compete globally by maintaining a clear brand identity while still leveraging partnerships and appealing to U.S., European, domestic, and Chinese audiences.
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This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 6:45 AM.