The Nissan Ariya is formally coming to Australia, however the model’s native division nonetheless can’t say after we may see the Tesla Mannequin Y-fighter Down Beneath.
Talking with media on the launch of the Qashqai e-Energy hybrid, normal supervisor for company communications Emily Fadeyev mentioned that whereas the all-electric Ariya SUV has been confirmed for an Australian launch sooner or later, the corporate remains to be unable to say when.
“Ariya will come, however we don’t have up to date timing,” Ms Fadeyev mentioned.
Nissan executives indicated in June final yr that the Ariya would finally make the journey Down Beneath, which shifted the dial from “we would like it” to “we’re getting it”.
Again in December 2022, managing director for Nissan Australia and Oceania Adam Paterson advised CarExpert the model is nicely conscious of the Australian market’s urge for food for automobiles just like the Ariya, and that a part of the delayed rollout has been international demand.
“Timing itself is troublesome for a few causes; first we all know the Ariya will do very nicely within the Australian market when it does arrive and after we can get it right here,” Mr Paterson mentioned.
“You might have seen that Nissan took pre-orders or reservations in some markets globally, after which needed to flip them off as a result of demand was so robust, and the choice was made in these markets that they didn’t wish to disappoint clients if supply occasions had been too lengthy.
“The corporate has needed to prioritise particular markets primarily based on the regulatory necessities of these markets. As some markets are shifting with CO2 methods much more quickly than we’re right here, that’s the place the choice has been made so far as sending it.
“However actually the challenges of the regulatory surroundings is so quickly evolving globally, that some markets could go from no requirement to a requirement of 1000, 2000, 5000 or 10,000 [units]; no matter that will require… and we’ve needed to proceed to shift manufacturing availabilities primarily based on that.
“So to have the ability to say that it’s completely obtainable on this date is hard as a result of, once more, international necessities in different markets are evolving,” Mr Paterson added.
The Nissan Ariya was revealed in production-ready guise in July 2020, which means the automotive might be three or 4 years previous by the point it hits Australian roads – although it solely began hitting international markets earlier in 2022.
Regardless of being a pioneer of electrical automobiles (EVs) with its Leaf hatchback, the Japanese model’s Australian arm has been unable to safe a neighborhood allocation and launch date.
Globally, the Ariya is offered with single-motor FWD and dual-motor e-4ORCE AWD drivetrains, in addition to a selection of two battery pack choices; with respective usable capacities of 63kWh and 87kWh. Earlier this yr Nissan additionally revealed a powered-up Ariya Nismo on the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon – which you’ll learn extra about right here.
Motor outputs for FWD fashions with the smaller-capacity battery are 160kW and 300Nm, whereas the larger-capacity battery Ariya’s single motor develops 178kW/300Nm. The dual-motor AWD system includes a mixed output of 250kW/560Nm (65kWh) or 290kW/600Nm (90kWh), with the latter providing a claimed 5.1-second 0-100km/h time.
Within the UK, the entry-level Ariya 63kWh (usable) is priced a smidgen below the beginning value of the most costly X-Path e-Energy e-4ORCE – in Australia, the X-Path Ti-L e-Energy with e-4ORCE is priced from $58,490 plus on-road prices.
On the higher finish of the vary, the high-spec Ariya e-4ORCE 87kWh Evolve specification is priced in the identical realm as an entry-level Volkswagen Touareg, which began at slightly below $90,000 plus on-roads earlier than the pre-facelift mannequin went into runout.
Nissan’s pioneering Leaf hatchback stays the Japanese model’s solely EV providing in Australia, and is now nearing the tip of its product lifecycle having first gone into manufacturing globally in 2017, not too long ago receiving a significant facelift.
It’s priced from $50,990 plus on-road prices for the usual model, and $61,490 earlier than on-roads for the long-range e+ variant.
Nissan bought simply 484 examples of the Leaf in Australia in 2023, nicely behind the likes of the Tesla Mannequin 3 (17,347 models) and even the BYD Dolphin (925 models) – and that’s not even considering extra in style SUV-bodied electrical automobiles.
A substitute for the ageing Leaf is reportedly on the horizon, with manufacturing of the present mannequin reportedly winding down on the finish of March in Sunderland, UK, to make method for a brand new vary of all-electric fashions – learn extra right here.
Tell us your ideas within the feedback
MORE: All the things Nissan Ariya
