Nissan Ariya finally confirmed for Australia

The Nissan Ariya has finally been locked in for Australian release, but the Japanese brand is still yet to confirm exactly when the all-new mid-size electric SUV will be made available here.

First revealed in October 2019, the Ariya has until now been in limbo for Australia, despite the fact we’ve been invited to drive it at least three times – in Japan in November 2019, Spain in March 2022 and Sweden in July 2022.

But earlier this month Nissan Australia hosted media, dealers and influencers to drive no fewer than eight European-spec Ariya prototypes, all but one of which are likely to be shipped to New Zealand for sale, during an event where it confirmed its second EV after the pioneering LEAF hatch.

However, the company said the Ariya would not be launched in Australia this year and didn't rule out the possibility it would be the facelifted version already spied undergoing testing overseas.

“Obviously the product is doing quite well in other markets … and it really is the next step as far as our electrification journey is concerned in Australia,” said Nissan Australia managing director Adam Paterson.

“While we can’t confirm a time as far as an arrival date is concerned, we know the vehicle will be successful when it does arrive, so we’re working on exactly what that time is.”

In Australia to present the Japanese brand’s latest mid-term business plans to local dealers, Guillaume Cartier, Nissan’s Chairperson of Management Committee for the AMIEO region (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania), said demand in Japan, Europe and the US, and local homologation hurdles and emissions regulations – or Australia’s lack thereof – remain impediments to the Ariya’s release Down Under.

Cartier conceded rivals like the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6, all of which are selling up a storm in Australia, have had a significant head-start in this market, but said the Ariya’s success here will ultimately be decided by customers.

“I don’t want to arrogant but when we launch Ariya the customer will tell whether it [sales volume] will big or not,” he said. “But this is not a niche – it should be significant volume.

“Of course we need a business case, but demand will drive the volume. I agree the market is moving, but the decision is taken and … we don’t give a date because we are undertaking the validation process.

“There are two types of customers [starting with] early adopters. Then you have the second category, the rational people. They will look at the total cost of ownership of the car.”

Nissan Australia executives said local pricing and specs for the Ariya, which is produced at Tochigi in Japan, were far from locked in.

They could also not provide market positioning guidance relative to the three aforementioned EVs, all of which are priced from around $70,000 and available in rear-drive single-motor and all-wheel drive dual-motor forms.

But they said Nissan is “confident enough we’ll get the volume to justify bringing the car in”.

As we’ve reported, the Nissan Ariya is available in Europe with two powertrains including two front-drive layouts – an entry-level 63kWh battery powering a 160kW/300Nm electric motor to provide 404km of range, and an 87kWh battery combined with 178kW/300Nm outputs offering a 536km range.

The all-wheel drive Ariya e4ORCE flagship offers the larger battery pack combined with a 225kW/600Nm motor to deliver a 498km range.

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