New Nissan boss backs ongoing Warrior program

The new boss of Nissan in Australia wants the Aussie-developed Warrior program to continue into the next-generation Nissan Patrol and Navara.

And Andrew Humberstone has also revealed discussions are underway with its partner in the Warrior program, Premcar, to expand the concept into other Nissan models.

Humberstone, officially titled Nissan Oceania managing director, was speaking to media at Premcar’s new assembly facility in northern Melbourne, standing alongside Premcar co-owner Bernie Quinn just days after the two of them had gone off-roading together in a Patrol Warrior.

“This is my third visit in 46 days here, which is an indication of how important this partnership is,” Humberstone declared.

“I think the relationship we have is a solid one and obviously when it comes to future product it’s not something we talk about openly.

“But obviously we are in discussion with Bernie and team about future product and what we can do going forward.

“So absolutely dialogue is open and we have a portfolio of products we are looking at and obviously really focusing on what do our Australian customers want and what models we think we can expand the Warrior brand into.”

Humberstone’s positive commentary is good news for Quinn, his partner Jim Jovanovski and their 200 employees at Premcar, as the incoming Y63 Nissan Patrol and new Mitsubishi Triton-based Navara are both due before the end of 2025.

They could potentially form an end point for the program, but instead the opposite appears to be true.

Just what other models the Warrior program could expand into remains unclear. But at its core, Warrior offers improved off-road capability and cosmetic exterior and interior upgrades.

Potentially that suits SUVs such as the Nissan X-TRAIL, Pathfinder, QASHQAI and JUKE, and future models such as the electric Ariya.

Humberstone also made it clear that even if a NISMO version of the Y63 Patrol or the next Navara made it to Australia, it would not endanger the Warrior program.

“I wouldn’t say so,” he said.

There is a Y62 NISMO Patrol sold in the Middle East and Nissan heavies have signalled its potential expansion into other markets with Y63.

There is no NISMO Navara, but there is enthusiasm for the concept at executive level.

“We are looking at the Australian component and the relationship we have with Bernie and with Premcar,” said Humberstone.

“It’s the ‘Made in Australia’ component that’s more important to us.”

For his part, Quinn expressed confidence about the future of Premcar’s relationship with Nissan.

“We don’t have any signed contracts for next models or anything like that,” he said. “What we have is a positive relationship, a level of trust I am very comfortable with and I feel is being reciprocated.”

The Warrior first appeared as a limited-edition based on the Nissan Navara N-TREK in late 2019.

The PRO-4X and SL Navara Warrior utes launched in 2021 and 2022 respectively. The Patrol Warrior followed in late 2023.

Premcar recently celebrated building 10,000 Warriors since 2019, including 2000 Patrols.

The Warrior program is also about to score its first international success, with a South African assembly program expected to be announced soon.

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