Nissan’s New Plan Focuses on AI-Defined Vehicles, Smaller Lineup, New Categories

Dubbed “Mobility Intelligence for Everyday Life,” Nissan’s new vision focuses on using AI to refocus its global vehicle portfolio, which is going to shrink from 56 vehicles to 45 vehicles. The company plans to eliminate the “low performers” from its lineup in the near term.

"This is the right moment to articulate Nissan's long‑term vision as we move beyond the Re:Nissan recovery plan and set a clear path for the future,” said Ivan Espinosa, president and CEO. He noted the company allowed its products to get too old which caused sales to fall. And at the same time, it failed to optimize to reduce costs creating the crisis the company is now dealing with.

“Our vision defines where Nissan is headed, with customer experience as our guiding priority. By advancing mobility intelligence, we will deliver intuitive, advanced, and reliable products and technologies that offer outstanding value and enrich how mobility is experienced."

While AI is central to Nissan’s plans to continue its recovery, how it plans to deliver product to buyers centers on new portfolio approach with four categories or models: Heartbeat, Core, Growth, and Partner. 

Heartbeat models embody Nissan's identity, emotional value, and innovation. Core models sustain global business with scale and stability. Growth models target expansion where demand is emerging. Partner models that extend market coverage through disciplined collaboration

For example, the 2027 Rogue, which the company also revealed during the presentation, is a Core model globally. It uses the new e-Power system and will be available in most of Nissan’s markets around the world. The new Xterra, also confirmed last night, is a Heartbeat model for the U.S.

With these four categories or models in place, Nissan plans to focus on its three lead markets: the U.S., Japan, and China. 

“These three markets will play a dual role in its overall market strategy — serving as a pillar of performance while also acting as a global driver for competitiveness and industrial capability,” the company said. “Together, these lead markets anchor Nissan's ability to scale innovation, tailor volume to demand, and set standards for how to compete globally on speed, cost, and relevance.”

In the U.S., which includes Canada for the company’s purposes, Nissan’s targeting sales of 1 million units by 2031. With new products like the Rogue and Xterra leading the charge, and affordability issues being addressed by localized production, the company believes it can reinvigorate U.S. sales.

Nissan plans to use AI to make better vehicles. For the company that means an optimized collection of vehicles that cost less and offer improved margins. For consumers it means, according to the company, vehicles that are safer and make daily life easier and more enjoyable.

The company’s focus on AI, called Nissan AIDV, combines Nissan AI Drive Technology and Nissan AI Partner Technology to improve the driving experience for vehicle owners. The shift means Nissan will be integrating AI with vehicle control and safety systems, starting with the next generation of the company’s semi-autonomous driving system, ProPilot, which will feature “end-to-end autonomous technologies” by early 2028.

The new ProPilot is part of Nissan AI Drive Technology. Development of Nissan’s new e-Power technology, which is used in the 2027 Rogue the company unveiled last night, was driven by Nissan AI Partner Technology, officials noted. AI Partner Technology enhances features that “support everyday activities” and integrate a vehicle into a person’s daily life, officials noted. 

The new hybrid system will act as a core platform that will help owners more easily transition to fully electric vehicles in the future. It’ll be the basis for Nissan’s electrified powertrains across the globe, which will include plug-in hybrids and range-extender hybrids “through partnerships.” What companies the company will partner with wasn’t revealed.

[Images: Nissan]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by   subscribing to our newsletter.