Photo: Nissan
According to sources familiar with the situation who spoke to Reuters, work on the project was effectively put on hold early last year. Although Nissan announced in 2023 its intention to produce an electric Qashqai at its plant in Sunderland—the UK’s largest automotive facility—the project’s future has since been called into question.
Pausing development allows the company to reduce capital expenditures, but it may also have long-term consequences. According to the sources, even if the project is resumed, the electric Qashqai will not be able to hit the market until the beginning of the next decade at the earliest. This could complicate Nissan’s position in the electric crossover segment of the European market, where competition continues to intensify from both traditional automakers and Chinese brands.
Nissan declined to disclose further plans regarding the model, emphasizing only its commitment to the strategy of developing an “electrified” lineup that includes both fully electric vehicles and hybrids. The company noted that the European electric vehicle market is experiencing a period of high volatility, which requires a more balanced approach to investment.
The project freeze coincided with a large-scale restructuring at Nissan. The company had previously announced a reduction in its global model lineup from 56 to 45 vehicles and scrapped plans to produce two electric SUVs at its plant in Mississippi, instead focusing on hybrid technologies.
Changes in automotive industry regulations are creating additional uncertainty. In the United Kingdom, there is discussion of easing mandatory sales requirements for electric vehicles, while the European Union is considering new rules on the localization of electric vehicle component production. These factors could significantly influence manufacturers’ investment decisions and the prospects for British automakers, a significant portion of whose production is geared toward export to EU countries.
