Nissan launching 7 new hybrids, PHEVs, EVs in U.S. by 2028

Nissan unveiled a new business plan on Monday called The Arc that electrifies the brand in the next three years, and preps its third wave of electric vehicles by 2028. The plan calls for 30 new global vehicles in the next three years, including four plug-in hybrids, eight electric vehicles, and an undisclosed amount of hybrid vehicles.

The North American market will get seven of the new models across the electrified spectrum. In the presentation, Nissan didn’t clarify the product mix or the vehicle segments, but the brand’s E-Power hybrid vehicles will come to North America for the first time, set for 2026. It expects this next iteration of E-Power to cost the same as combustion engines, with greater power, greater efficiency, and less cost than the previous iteration of its hybrid technology. 

Even though Nissan sells two EVs in the U.S., it doesn’t have a hybrid or plug-in hybrid offering. Nissan currently sells the Nissan Leaf electric hatchback that was the first mass produced electric vehicle to market dating back to late 2010. It took a while for Nissan to build off that head start, launching the technologically more sophisticated and more stylish Nissan Ariya electric crossover as a 2023 model.

The E-Power hybrids use a small battery powered by a gas engine that acts as a generator. All propulsion goes through the electric motor, and since the engine generator fills the battery, it doesn’t need to be plugged in, similar to the BMW i3 REx. The engine generator just needs to be filled up at a gas tank like a normal internal combustion engine. 

In other global markets, Nissan sells a hybrid version of the discontinued Rogue Sport. Expect to see E-Power come to Nissan’s smaller cars, such as the redesigned 2025 Nissan Kicks or the Nissan Altima sedan. The plug-in hybrid models likely will arrive in more expensive and larger models, likely in the Infiniti luxury brand. In total, Nissan expects to refresh 78% of its passenger vehicles with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.  

A larger proportion of new vehicles will launch as electric models, including a new EV for Nissan and Infiniti set to launch for 2025 out of Nissan’s Canton, Mississippi plant. The concepts shown in 2022 appeared to be raised sedans that could replace the Maxima large sedan. The company plans to double EV sales to 40% of its product mix by 2030. Before then, Nissan’s developing its next generation lithium-ion batteries that should debut in a three-row SUV aimed for 2028. 

It’s also developing lithium-iron-phosphate batteries and a solid-state battery due for production vehicles in 2028, as well. With The Arc, Nissan has answered a lot of questions about where the brand is going following the 2019 arrest, dismissal, and fugitive exploits of ex-CEO Carlos Ghosn, who was accused of financial improprieties.