Report: Stellantis plans to inject $10 billion into U.S. operations
According to reports, Stellantis plans to invest an additional $5 billion in new funds on top of its previous commitments.
Automotive News reports that Nissan is considering partnering with Ford and Stellantis to build a hybrid compact crossover in Smyrna, Tennessee.
A potential partnership between Ford and Jeep’s parent company would see the Rogue crossover equipped with Nissan’s e-Power hybrid system, two people familiar with the matter told Automotive News.
Automotive News reported that the vehicle will be assembled at the company’s Smyrna plant, but Nissan spokeswoman Lorin Love-Carter would not confirm a formal agreement.
“We are evaluating options to maximize the value of our breakthrough ePower hybrid technology for the U.S. market, with an initial focus on the Rogue and future Infiniti crossovers,” Love-Carter told The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. “As hybrid vehicle sales volumes are expected to increase in the coming years, we are exploring options to localize both vehicle and powertrain production.”
Nissan’s website claims the Nissan ePower is a “more fuel efficient” vehicle that can travel up to 759 miles on a full tank.
“We remain open to dialogue that provides strategic and complementary market opportunities to our core model development efforts,” Love-Carter said. “At this time, no agreements have been signed regarding production at the U.S. factory.”
The report comes on the heels of a strong third quarter in which demand for compact crossovers reached an all-time high.
From July to September, Nissan Group’s total sales reached 223,377 units, an increase of 5.3% compared to the same period in 2024.
In the third quarter, Nissan’s sales increased 2.2% year over year, while Infiniti’s sales decreased 9.2%.
The Nashville-based company saw sales of its compact crossover, the Kicks, increase 37%, the highest since its launch. Additionally, over the summer, Murano and Rogue crossover sales increased by 167.5% and 8.9%, respectively.
“SUVs and trucks led the way in the quarter with competitive pricing, refreshed designs and an array of consumer-focused features that resonate with today’s buyers,” according to the release.
The Pathfinder SUV, Armada SUV, and Frontier pickup were all on the rise, with third-quarter sales up 33.2%, 24%, and 19.2%, respectively. As we head into the fourth quarter, Nissan is gearing up for the next-generation Leaf and Sentra, which will go on sale in the coming months. This is the first year that the Leaf will not be produced in Tennessee since it debuted at the Smyrna plant in 2013.
