Latest news with #PonzPandikuthira
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nissan's all-new 2026 LEAF EV comes at a critical time for automaker
Nissan (NSANY) revealed the all-new 2026 LEAF EV, a big update to one of the original mainstream EVs offered in America. But the updated, compact EV comes at a precarious time for the automaker. The new LEAF features a more standard design, an update to the prior-generation LEAF that looked like a hatchback version of the entry-level Versa. Nissan went more upmarket with the LEAF, giving it a desirable crossover compact SUV form factor, along with looks inspired by its big brother, the Ariya EV. Though the car features a new design, Nissan wanted to maintain the original LEAF's low pricing. 'We have not released final pricing on the vehicle, but fair to assume early on that [it will be in] the very low $30's [thousands],' with higher trims reaching $40,000, said Ponz Pandikuthira, senior vice president and chief planning officer for Nissan Americas. While that's a bit more than the current LEAF, which starts at $28,140, Pandikuthria believes what's most important is maintaining a similar monthly payment, a metric Nissan will try to maintain when the LEAF goes on sale later this year. Pandikuthria, whose role includes defining Nissan's future product portfolio and profitability, believes the new LEAF is a much-improved update to a car that's sold 700,000 units since its 2010 debut but 'never won any beauty pageants,' he said. The LEAF will come in a front-wheel-drive-only configuration, with one electric motor driving the front wheels, but that means higher efficiency, translating to an estimated 303-mile range from its 75-kWh battery pack, a huge jump from the 212-mile range of the current LEAF SV Plus. The new LEAF will also come with Tesla's NACS inlet port built in, providing easy access to Tesla's ubiquitous Supercharger network. Speaking of Tesla (TSLA), the EV king is one of the brands Nissan is targeting, with the automaker shooting for a 70% conquest rate, Pandikuthria said. With the cheapest Model 3 coming in at around $42,500, there is an opportunity. But Nissan faces a potential hurdle with tariffs. President Trump's auto sector tariffs of 25% apply to the Japanese-built LEAF, meaning an additional $7,500 in extra costs for the car, the majority of which Nissan will likely have to pass to the consumer. And the US and Japan left this week's G7 meeting without a trade deal. Tariffs aside, Nissan is in a tough spot. The company posted a net loss of around $4.6 billion for fiscal 2024, and new CEO Iván Espinosa is targeting 20,000 job cuts and the closure of seven of its 17 global plants by 2027. That being said, Nissan is trying to stem the losses in important markets like China and the US. The company intends to release 10 new and updated vehicles in North America by 2027. The new LEAF is one of them. And Nissan needs it to be a hit. Pras Subramanian is the lead auto reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on X and on Instagram.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nissan's all-new 2026 LEAF EV comes at a critical time for automaker
Nissan (NSANY) revealed the all-new 2026 LEAF EV, a big update to one of the original mainstream EVs offered in America. But the updated, compact EV comes at a precarious time for the automaker. The new LEAF features a more standard design, an update to the prior-generation LEAF that looked like a hatchback version of the entry-level Versa. Nissan went more upmarket with the LEAF, giving it a desirable crossover compact SUV form factor, along with looks inspired by its big brother, the Ariya EV. Though the car features a new design, Nissan wanted to maintain the original LEAF's low pricing. 'We have not released final pricing on the vehicle, but fair to assume early on that [it will be in] the very low $30's [thousands],' with higher trims reaching $40,000, said Ponz Pandikuthira, senior vice president and chief planning officer for Nissan Americas. While that's a bit more than the current LEAF, which starts at $28,140, Pandikuthria believes what's most important is maintaining a similar monthly payment, a metric Nissan will try to maintain when the LEAF goes on sale later this year. Pandikuthria, whose role includes defining Nissan's future product portfolio and profitability, believes the new LEAF is a much-improved update to a car that's sold 700,000 units since its 2010 debut but 'never won any beauty pageants,' he said. The LEAF will come in a front-wheel-drive-only configuration, with one electric motor driving the front wheels, but that means higher efficiency, translating to an estimated 303-mile range from its 75-kWh battery pack, a huge jump from the 212-mile range of the current LEAF SV Plus. The new LEAF will also come with Tesla's NACS inlet port built in, providing easy access to Tesla's ubiquitous Supercharger network. Speaking of Tesla (TSLA), the EV king is one of the brands Nissan is targeting, with the automaker shooting for a 70% conquest rate, Pandikuthria said. With the cheapest Model 3 coming in at around $42,500, there is an opportunity. But Nissan faces a potential hurdle with tariffs. President Trump's auto sector tariffs of 25% apply to the Japanese-built LEAF, meaning an additional $7,500 in extra costs for the car, the majority of which Nissan will likely have to pass to the consumer. And the US and Japan left this week's G7 meeting without a trade deal. Tariffs aside, Nissan is in a tough spot. The company posted a net loss of around $4.6 billion for fiscal 2024, and new CEO Iván Espinosa is targeting 20,000 job cuts and the closure of seven of its 17 global plants by 2027. That being said, Nissan is trying to stem the losses in important markets like China and the US. The company intends to release 10 new and updated vehicles in North America by 2027. The new LEAF is one of them. And Nissan needs it to be a hit. Pras Subramanian is the lead auto reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on X and on Instagram.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nissan's all-new 2026 LEAF EV comes at a critical time for automaker
Nissan (NSANY) revealed the all-new 2026 LEAF EV, a big update to one of the original mainstream EVs offered in America. But the updated, compact EV comes at a precarious time for the automaker. The new LEAF features a more standard design, an update to the prior-generation LEAF that looked like a hatchback version of the entry-level Versa. Nissan went more upmarket with the LEAF, giving it a desirable crossover compact SUV form factor, along with looks inspired by its big brother, the Ariya EV. Though the car features a new design, Nissan wanted to maintain the original LEAF's low pricing. 'We have not released final pricing on the vehicle, but fair to assume early on that [it will be in] the very low $30's [thousands],' with higher trims reaching $40,000, said Ponz Pandikuthira, senior vice president and chief planning officer for Nissan Americas. While that's a bit more than the current LEAF, which starts at $28,140, Pandikuthria believes what's most important is maintaining a similar monthly payment, a metric Nissan will try to maintain when the LEAF goes on sale later this year. Pandikuthria, whose role includes defining Nissan's future product portfolio and profitability, believes the new LEAF is a much-improved update to a car that's sold 700,000 units since its 2010 debut but 'never won any beauty pageants,' he said. The LEAF will come in a front-wheel-drive-only configuration, with one electric motor driving the front wheels, but that means higher efficiency, translating to an estimated 303-mile range from its 75-kWh battery pack, a huge jump from the 212-mile range of the current LEAF SV Plus. The new LEAF will also come with Tesla's NACS inlet port built in, providing easy access to Tesla's ubiquitous Supercharger network. Speaking of Tesla (TSLA), the EV king is one of the brands Nissan is targeting, with the automaker shooting for a 70% conquest rate, Pandikuthria said. With the cheapest Model 3 coming in at around $42,500, there is an opportunity. But Nissan faces a potential hurdle with tariffs. President Trump's auto sector tariffs of 25% apply to the Japanese-built LEAF, meaning an additional $7,500 in extra costs for the car, the majority of which Nissan will likely have to pass to the consumer. And the US and Japan left this week's G7 meeting without a trade deal. Tariffs aside, Nissan is in a tough spot. The company posted a net loss of around $4.6 billion for fiscal 2024, and new CEO Iván Espinosa is targeting 20,000 job cuts and the closure of seven of its 17 global plants by 2027. That being said, Nissan is trying to stem the losses in important markets like China and the US. The company intends to release 10 new and updated vehicles in North America by 2027. The new LEAF is one of them. And Nissan needs it to be a hit. Pras Subramanian is the lead auto reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on X and on Instagram. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Hindustan Times
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Nissan and Honda may co-develop GT-R and NSX, despite merger talks falling apart. Check details
Although not set in stone, a GT-R and NSX partnership is possible, and, in fact, necessary in the current automotive environment Though their formal merger is on hold, reports have surfaced that Nissan and Honda are looking at the potential to collaborate on their next-generation performance icons using the Nissan GT-R and the Honda NSX. While nothing is signed yet, both automakers are considering sharing platform technology but maintaining their own distinct engineering philosophies. A report by stated that Nissan North America's SVP and Chief Planning Officer, Ponz Pandikuthira, encouraged said discussions in a conversation at the 2025 New York Motor Show about the possibility of co-developing the GT-R and NSX. He stressed they would try to maintain the uniqueness of the vehicles and not simply produce rebadged versions. Also Read : Nissan GT-R to make a comeback soon as part of global revival: Confirms new CEO 'Could we build the next GT-R and NSX on a shared platform, while keeping each car true to its legacy? I think we can," Pandikuthira stated. He made it clear that these cars must never be cloned. The NSX is known for its all-aluminium precise lightness while the GT-R is known for extreme power and aggressive performance. They illustrate two distinctly different performance philosophies. Future Powertrains: Hybrid and Electric on the Horizon Even though the current NSX has been discontinued, rumors surrounding an all-electric replacement persist. Pandikuthira clarified that an electric "NSX-type" model wouldn't rule out the possibility of a separate, new-generation NSX albeit a unique one. Meanwhile, the upcoming R36 GT-R will be hybrid and aims to take on its European rivals like Porsche 911—just like the R35 did back in 2007. Pandikuthira mentioned that Aston Martin's relationship with Mercedes-AMG is one instance of how to share technologies while remaining separate brands. He mentioned that although not set in stone, a GT-R and NSX partnership is possible, and, in fact, necessary in the current automotive environment. Also Read : Nissan teases compact SUV and MPV for India: First look at the upcoming models In spite of the collapse of the proposed merger between Honda and Nissan earlier in the year, Nissan's new CEO Ivan Espinosa has maintained dialogue with Honda leadership. Espinosa has "never stopped talking with Honda," per Pandikuthira, and the desire for strategic partnerships has been left open. While not a confirmation, Nissan's comments indicate interest in a partnership as both OEMs navigate the future of performance vehicles in an electrified world rapidly evolving. Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2024, Best SUVs in India. First Published Date: 04 May 2025, 09:53 AM IST
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nissan Kills EV Sedan Plans, Bets Big on SUVs Instead
Nissan has officially scrapped plans to build two electric sedans in the United States, one for its main brand and another for Infiniti. The vehicles were initially scheduled to be produced at the automaker's Canton, Mississippi, plant, with launches targeted initially for 2026 and 2027. But according to a leaked memo and confirmation from Nissan, those plans are now dead. The company cited both economic and strategic reasons for the pivot. "The sedan market is shrinking… we need to face reality," said Christian Meunier, Nissan's North American chairperson, in comments to Automotive News. The company's head of product planning, Ponz Pandikuthira, added that with EV battery costs still high, Nissan would have to price the sedans north of $45,000, out of reach for many of its core customers. Instead, Nissan says it's doubling down on what American buyers are actually asking for. 'Nissan is committed to delivering the right product, at the right time, in the right place, and at the right price," the Automaker wrote in a statement to Car and Driver. "We are actively listening to market data and, most importantly, to our customers. Both are signaling the need for us to reassess our EV offerings, prioritizing what our customers truly want — SUVs over sedans. Production will now focus on three fully electric SUV models, including versions for both Nissan and INFINITI, with manufacturing starting around mid-2028." The first of these vehicles is an Xterra-inspired electric SUV, codenamed PZ1K, which was previewed at a Nissan event in Japan. Originally expected in early 2027, production has now been pushed to January 2028. A luxury version under the Infiniti badge, codenamed PZ1J, will follow a few months later in May. A third electric model is also in the works, but Nissan hasn't revealed any details yet. While tariffs and supply chain issues have challenged the auto industry, Nissan's retreat from sedans appears to have been in motion well before the most recent disruptions. The company had already delayed its sedan timeline once in early 2024, and internal hesitation seems to have grown from there. Still, Nissan is optimistic about its U.S. manufacturing footprint. 'We're very fortunate to have a robust industrial footprint in the United States,' said Vinay Shahani, head of U.S. sales and marketing, to Motor1. That domestic base could give Nissan an edge as it pivots to SUV production amid shifting regulations and consumer preferences. The cancellation frees up resources for Nissan to focus on more profitable, in-demand segments. But with the new SUV lineup not arriving until 2028, there's a long road ahead. For now, Nissan is betting that rugged, electric crossovers — rather than sleek sedans — are the key to its EV future. Will that bet pay off? We'll find out in a few years.
