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Nissan’s native boss has admitted to pushing again the launch of the next-generation Navara dual-cab ute, because of ongoing “challenges” round pricing, specification and variant combine.
Talking with CarExpert, Nissan Oceania managing director Andrew Humberstone mentioned fairly candidly that he desires to get the model’s crucial new ute “proper”.
“We delayed it for a variety of causes: I wished the proper product on the proper time, with the proper spec, with the proper high quality, with the proper variety of variants – we’re having sure challenges with that as a market,” Mr Humberstone mentioned.
“I don’t wish to be able the place we did one thing that was not a full complement, and begin drip-feeding derivatives into market. It’s a world launch, it’s a very essential launch for us, and we wish it to be substantial.”
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Regardless of the as-yet unrevealed new Navara being delayed, Mr Humberstone maintains the brand new ute will nonetheless arrive in native showrooms someday throughout 2026.
Globally, Nissan has solely teased the facelifted NP300 Navara/Frontier that may arrive in Latin American markets throughout the 2026 Japanese monetary yr, regardless of this and the next-generation pickup for Oceania being confirmed in the identical world announcement.
Above is a teaser picture of the facelifted mannequin for Latin America, displaying a extra futuristic entrance finish according to a number of the model’s latest and upcoming fashions. It’s unlikely this new Navara might be getting any type of electrification, regardless of the new-age face.
In the meantime, the upcoming Thai-built next-gen Navara, which is destined for the Oceania area which incorporates Asia and Australia is a brand new “one-ton pickup” will “leverage Nissan’s partnership with Mitsubishi Motors”.
Above: Nissan Frontier Professional Plug-in Hybrid
There’s additionally potential for the lately revealed Frontier Professional Plug-in Hybrid – revealed at this yr’s Shanghai motor present and primarily based on the Z9 from the Dongfeng-Nissan Chinese language three way partnership – for the Australian market to tackle plug-in utes just like the BYD Shark 6, Ford Ranger PHEV and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV.
Whereas the Frontier Professional PHEV continues to be not confirmed for Australia, regardless of being confirmed for exports outdoors of the Chinese language market, Mr Humberstone mentioned the PHEV ute is “100 per cent on [our] radar”.
“It’s a really attention-grabbing product, and undoubtedly on our radar… undoubtedly being mentioned. For me it’s an attention-grabbing alternative and it might give us a singular area in market,” Mr Humberstone continued.
“I see a cut up in that ute area – conventional, hardcore ute driver – after which the one which maybe doesn’t want the identical towing capability or doubtlessly [workhorse] utilization – possibly extra for [taking] canines and surfboards to the seaside, versus hardcore off-roading.”
Above: Present Nissan Navara
The present D23-generation Nissan Navara has been in manufacturing since 2014 and was facelifted in 2020, making it greater than a decade previous.
Regardless of competing in certainly one of Australia’s highest quantity car segments, the Navara is absolutely solely managing modest gross sales of late, commanding 3.7 per cent market share within the 4×4 ute section and simply 1.9 per cent in 4×2.
For reference, there have been 554 new Navara 4×4 automobiles registered in August, in comparison with 4730 Ford Ranger 4x4s and 3958 Toyota HiLux 4x4s. Little question Nissan Australia is itching for an overhauled mannequin to get a much bigger slice of the pie.
Keep tuned to CarExpert for all the most recent within the lead as much as the brand new Navara’s arrival in 2026.
MORE: Discover the Nissan Navara showroom
