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The end of an era of Japanese sedans is upon us. We’ve received official news that production of the Nissan Maxima will end in mid-2023. When the line ceases to exist, it will mark the end of 42 years of Nissan’s flagship four-door journey.
A Nissan spokesperson gave the following statement to: Motor1.com about Maxima’s death:
The Maxima is one of the most storied nameplates for Nissan in North America. On Wednesday, August 3, we announced to our employees, suppliers and dealers that the current generation Maxima will end production in mid-2023.
As part of Nissan’s Ambition 2030 plan, the company is prioritizing electric vehicles and advanced technology, and by 2030, 40 percent of Nissan’s vehicle sales will be fully electric, with much more to be electrified. Additionally, earlier this year Nissan announced two all-new all-electric models at its Canton assembly plant in Mississippi.
Stay tuned for future Nissan Maxima news as we empower travel through exciting vehicles and technological innovation.
The Maxima debuted in 1980 for the 1981 model year, initially under the Datsun brand. Offering six-cylinder power with rear-wheel drive, it was billed as a full-size flagship initially available as either a sedan or a station wagon. The shift to front-wheel drive came with the second-generation model – now sporting the Nissan badge – and will remain that way for the rest of its life. Always considered a sporty sedan, the Maxima arguably reached the peak of its enthusiasm in the 1990s and early 2000s with its fourth and fifth generation models, offering understated styling with V6 power and a manual transmission.
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The current-generation Maxima debuted in 2015, offering 300 horsepower paired only with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Despite impressive straight-line performance, Maxima sales have continued to decline as buyers transition to SUVs and crossovers. This applies to almost all major sedans, but sales of the Maxima have been significantly suffered in recent months. Only 3,753 units were sold through the first half of 2022, down more than 62 percent from a year earlier.
It’s always possible that the Maxima moniker could return for a future EV. Nissan’s statement certainly opens the door to such a reboot, but for now, we’re saying goodbye again to the acclaimed and durable sedan.
Find yourself craving Maxima’s glory days in the 1990s? Check out our Radwood-themed episodes from Chatting About Cars podcast, available below.
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