Nissan plans to delay production of two electric crossover models in the United States by up to a year, becoming the second Japanese automaker after Honda to adjust its U.S. electrification strategy following the Trump administration’s early halt to federal EV tax incentives, Nikkei reported.
According to Nikkei, the delay affects two mid-size electric SUVs—one under the Nissan brand and the other under its luxury marque Infiniti—originally scheduled for production at the company’s Canton, Mississippi plant in 2028. The revised timeline now pushes their launch to late 2028 or early 2029. While the report did not cite specific sources, Nissan’s U.S. subsidiary later confirmed that it is “slightly” modifying its EV manufacturing plans for the Mississippi facility.
The policy shift in Washington has introduced fresh uncertainty for automakers investing in EV infrastructure. With federal tax credits now unavailable, analysts expect weaker consumer demand in the near term. Internal supplier communications in April had already indicated that production of the Nissan model, codenamed PZ1K, was delayed by about a year, while the Infiniti variant (PZ1J) had been pushed back by four months.
Nissan has also halted development of two electric sedans initially planned for the U.S. and canceled a smaller electric SUV that was part of an earlier five-model EV expansion. Instead, the company may introduce the third-generation Leaf—redesigned as a compact SUV and produced in Sunderland, UK—to the U.S. market or offer a similar model tailored for U.S. consumers.
The report from Nikkei aligns with a broader trend among Japanese carmakers adjusting their U.S. EV roadmaps. Honda recently suspended development of a three-row electric SUV for the American market amid policy uncertainty, though it remains committed to its upcoming mid-size 0 Series. Toyota, too, delayed the launch of a large electric SUV from one of its U.S. plants originally planned for late 2025.
The production shifts underscore how regulatory changes and fluctuating demand are reshaping investment decisions in the electric vehicle sector across North America.