Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida discusses upcoming global product launches aimed at getting the company back on track after a difficult first quarter
- Nissan unveiled four new models in its first-quarter financial report.
- These include the Patrol and Armada twins, the Murano SUV and a small SUV.
- Nissan’s operating profit plunged 99.2%, prompting it to revise its targets.
Nissan quietly revealed a host of upcoming models during its financial results report for the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Highlights included the new Patrol, its Armada sibling, the sporty Murano, and a mysterious small crossover.
Amid the sea of charts and numbers, one slide stood out as it highlighted Nissan’s major new product launches: the latest Infiniti QX80, the new Nissan Kicks, the recently revamped Nissan Note Aura, and the Nismo version of the Nissan Ariya.
MORE: Here’s everything we know about the 2025 Nissan Murano
The above models have been unveiled, but the four black silhouettes behind them are the real highlight. Two of the models have similar proportions to the Infiniti QX80, indicating that they are the new Patrol (Middle East) and Armada (US) twins. From these angles, it’s difficult to tell whether the two large SUVs will differ in terms of exterior design, or whether they will follow the example of their almost identical predecessors.
The midsize SUV on the right is likely the upcoming Nissan Murano, which is expected to be available in North America soon as a 2025 model. Its long rear shoulders and sleek roofline match recent spy photos, which also show a split headlight design.
Nissan/YouTube
The final model appears to be a significantly smaller crossover or SUV. Since no details were mentioned in the presentation, we can only speculate based on recent reports. Its proportions suggest it is a subcompact SUV, not the expected Nissan Leaf crossover.
The teaser video could show an all-electric Nissan Juke, which is rumored to debut between 2025 and 2027. The model is expected to be sold in Europe alongside the ICE-powered Juke, which was initially launched in 2019 and updated in 2024 with a new infotainment system.
Profits down but future optimistic
The first quarter of fiscal 2024 was financially challenging for Nissan. Operating profit plummeted 99.2% to 995 million yen ($6.4 million), while net profit fell 72.9% to 28.562 billion yen ($184.6 million).
The results forced Nissan to revise its full-year targets for fiscal 2024. The sales target was lowered to 3.65 million vehicles from 3.7 million, and the operating profit target was lowered to 500 billion yen ($3.2 billion) from 600 billion yen ($3.9 billion).
Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida talked about upcoming models in different regions, aimed at getting the company back on track after a difficult first quarter. Uchida highlighted the new Armada and Murano for the U.S. market, hoping to reignite customer interest along with the Infiniti QX80
Electric e-Power versions of the Juke, Qashqai and X-Trail SUVs are crucial for the European market, while a new Patrol is coming to the Middle East. For the Japanese market, Nissan will focus on the Note hatchback, Serena minivan and Sakura and Dayz light cars.
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