Nissan Ariya pushed back to 2023 at the earliest

As its competitors start launching their ground-breaking new mid-size electric SUVs in Australia, EV pioneer Nissan is yet to lock its Ariya in for local release.

First shown to the world in July 2020, the Nissan Ariya, is only now going on sale in Japan after delays due to the global semi-conductor shortage and has been confirmed for rollout in the US and other key EV markets in 2022.

Clearly Australia – where the Ariya had also been expected to arrive next year – does not fall into that category, because it lacks both EV sales heft and a substantial national strategy to encourage their purchase.

The hope at Nissan Australia now appears to be that we might see the Ariya in 2023. That means the brand that rolled out the pioneering Nissan LEAF here all the way back in 2012 gets to watch on as Hyundai launches the carsales Car of the Year-winning IONIQ 5, the Polestar 2 becomes available for order and the Tesla Model Y looms on the local horizon.

Nissan Oceania managing director Adam Paterson was succinct in his summation of Ariya’s Australian prospects when quizzed by carsales.

“Unconfirmed arrival date, working on when we can confirm that car for Australia,” he said.

Paterson drove a stake through the heart of any prospect the Ariya would arrive in Australia in 2022.

“I think it’s fair to confirm at this point that we have got four great vehicles to launch in 2022 and we will not be adding to that.”

Paterson was referring to four all-new Nissan models coming here next year, including the new QASHQAI compact SUV that arrives in the first half of 2022, the new Z sports coupe that arrives mid-year and the new Pathfinder large SUV and X-TRAIL medium SUV that launch in Australia in the second half of next year.

Both the QASHQAI and X-TRAIL will include range-extender E-Power hybrid drivetrains in their line-ups, ensuring that along with the LEAF EV family that Nissan keeps its local commitment to electrify 30 per cent of its range by the end of 2022.

The Ariya launched in Japan priced at about $78,000 with a 63kWh battery pack, a single 160kW/300Nm e-motor driving the front wheels and a 360km range. This spec reduced the number of chips required for the powertrain while allowing the complex features such as semi-autonomous ProPilot 2 and remote parking.

The Ariya model line-up will also eventually include a larger 87kWh battery, a 178kW/300Nm e-motor and dual-motor all-wheel drive outputting up to 290kW and 600Nm. Maximum WLTP range for the Ariya will be 500km in the extended-range FWD model.

Nissan Australia’s hopes to eventually secure the Ariya for local sales are aided by the Japanese home market also being right-hand drive.

But Paterson conceded that Australia’s relatively small market and lack of federal government clarity on EVs meant it was being pushed down the order. 

“Until we get some type of national framework that really gives people confidence and makes vehicles perhaps a little more accessible, the [EV] uptake is probably not going to be what we hope,” he said.

“The Australian EV market hasn’t taken off yet. We are what 0.76 per cent over the last 12 months. The market has to show demand for the product before the manufacturers start investing. It’s kind of like the chicken and the egg.

“There’s far more questions about volume forecasts and such things when the market is not demonstrating that its demanding and delivering volume there yet.

“It’s very different – I would assume – when Norway, which is a 70 per cent EV market, goes and talks to Japan versus Australia, which 0.76 per cent.”

Nissan’s announcement last week of 23 new electrified models, including 15 BEVs by 2030, mean the floodgates should eventually open for Australian supply of electric vehicles.

“Globally, collectively, Nissan will strive towards delivering a far larger EV line-up than we have today,” said Paterson. “You have seen Ariya has launched.

“At some point the [Australian] market is going to turn and want all these products that are going to be available in other markets.

“Australians are going to demand them and it’s just [a matter of] how fast that will be able to happen.”