Nissan’s struggles have been well documented, but CEO Ivan Espinosa has a plan to turn things around. At this year’s “Nissan Vision” viewing event at the company’s headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, the automaker shared new details about how it plans to right the ship.
Like many things in 2026, it all starts with artificial intelligence. In addition, Nissan plans to launch new hybrid technology, introduce new vehicles in key segments, and simplify its product lineup to key segments.
We sat down with Nissan in Yokohama to learn more about its plans for the coming years. Here’s what we found.
AI: Future Driver Assistance
Nissan wants to capitalize on the AI boom with what it calls AI Drive Technology, or AIDT for short. Details are still unclear, but the company says AIDT will expand existing driver assistance systems—such as ProPilot—to provide a smoother, more advanced semi-autonomous driving experience.
In the long term, Nissan aims to bring AI Drive Technology to 90 percent of its product range. The first vehicle to feature the system will be the Elgrand van for the Japanese market, with the redesigned model expected to debut later this year. AI-enhanced ProPilot functionality will follow in 2027.
Electrification: Long Overdue
2027 Nissan Rogue / X-Trail E-Power Hybrid
Photo by: Nissan
Compared with some of its competitors, Nissan has been slow to adopt hybrid technology—especially in the US. That finally changed. Today, the company gave us a first look at the new Rogue Hybrid (along with the global X-Trail) for 2027, which is powered by the company’s latest E-Power system.
While specific specifications for this particular model are still limited, the Rogue will use Nissan’s third-generation E-Power hybrid system and will be the first E-Power model for the US market. The company previously claimed a thermal efficiency of 42 percent for the new system, topping the 41 percent figure cited by Toyota and Hyundai.
Xterra: Don’t Call It a Comeback
2028 Nissan Xterra teaser
Photo by: Nissan
Finally, the return many US buyers have been waiting for: the rebirth of the Nissan Xterra. The company has long hinted at the SUV’s return, quietly releasing details over the past few months. But today, we got official confirmation and our first official look at the SUV.
Specifications are being kept under wraps, but Nissan says the new Xterra will serve as a “Heartbeat” model for the US and Canada—part of its new strategic focus. As confirmed by Nissan, the car will feature body-on-frame construction and a bespoke design.
In a previous interview, a Nissan spokesperson suggested the Xterra might skip the hybrid four-cylinder setup used by some of its rivals in favor of a naturally aspirated V6 engine. A manual transmission seems unlikely, but this SUV is expected to be highly capable, with competitors like the Ford Bronco and Toyota 4Runner eyeing it.
Slimming the Lineup
As part of its broader strategy, Nissan plans to reduce its global lineup from more than 60 models to around 45 models for its Nissan and Infiniti brands. The company will phase out low-performance vehicles—like the Versa (RIP)—and shift those resources elsewhere.
“Core” models, including the Rogue and other top-selling SUVs, are expected to account for about 80 percent of total sales. The rest of the lineup will consist of “Heartbeat” models like the Xterra, “Growth” models like the global Juke, and various “Partner” models.
Nissan aims to increase average volume per model by more than 30 percent, with a target of reaching one million annual sales in the US and Canada by 2030. In Japan, the company is targeting 550,000 units in the same time frame.
As CEO Ivan Espinosa notes:
“This is the right moment to articulate Nissan’s long-term vision as we move beyond the Re:Nissan recovery plan and set a clear path for the future. Our vision defines Nissan’s purpose, with customer experience as our guiding priority. By advancing mobility intelligence, we will deliver intuitive, advanced and reliable products and technologies that offer exceptional value and enrich the mobility experience.”
Motorcycle Pickup1: AI aside, if Nissan can nail the basics and get its product lineup back to basics, the struggling automaker could see a revival happen sooner.
