Nissan Australia has thwarted the brand new electric Juke – and it was just revealed.
The third-generation Juke compact crossover SUV, unveiled in Japan this week, will be fully electric, and Nissan has announced no plans to offer it outside Europe and the UK.
The new model was confirmed to share the same platform as the new third-generation Leaf, which was also taken off the table for our market after previously confirming a local launch.
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“Public perception can change business decisions,” said Steve Coughlan, communications director at Nissan Oceania.
However, it is understood there are no plans to sell the Juke in Australia – leaving Nissan with just one electric car in its lineup, the Ariya, at a time when demand for electric vehicles (EV) is rising as motorists consider fuel costs, fuel safety and the ongoing environmental impact of internal combustion engine vehicles.
Added to this are the Australian government’s strict emissions regulations under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which only become more difficult to comply with for brands that do not have multiple electric car models in their range.
Nissan Australia recently confirmed that the UK-built Juke and US-built Pathfinder would be leaving local showrooms.
The new Juke will be built in the UK at the Sunderland factory, where the light SUV has been produced since its launch in 2010. The electric SUV will launch in the UK and Europe between March and May 2027.
The Juke plant in Sunderland also produces the peppy Leaf crossover, and Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa confirmed that both share the same platform and, it is understood, some components, although they are very different in size and style of electric vehicles.
While the Juke and Leaf are ruled out for Australia, Nissan is still trying to expand its local electric vehicle offering.
As is known, the brand is targeting models from the Chinese joint venture Dongfeng Nissan, including the new NX8 SUV. At 4870mm long, it is slightly larger than the popular Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7 and Zeekr 7X.
Another potential option for our market is the N7 sedan, a large four-door sedan that would offer a larger alternative to the Tesla Model 3 and BYD Seal but could still cost less than a hybrid Honda Accord.
These Chinese-made EV models are currently being considered for Australia and further news on their potential for our market is expected soon.
MORE: Explore the Nissan Juke showroom
