Nissan Motor Company announced plans to increase its U.S. production capacity in conjunction with the rollout of the 2027 Nissan Rogue crossover, a key model in the company’s lineup. The expansion will include the introduction of a new hybrid variant, reflecting Nissan’s commitment to meeting growing demand for electrified vehicles in the American market.
The gasoline-powered version of the 2027 Rogue is scheduled to begin production in spring 2027 at Nissan’s Smyrna, Tennessee assembly plant. Hybrid production for the U.S. market is slated to start next year, initially with hybrid models imported from Japan until domestic production ramps up. Nissan has indicated that if demand for the Rogue hybrid meets expectations, adding a third production shift at Smyrna and possibly other U.S. facilities could boost annual vehicle assembly to approximately 1 million vehicles per year, up from nearly 487,000 units projected for 2025.
Christian Meunier, Chairman of Nissan Americas, emphasized the significance of this production increase, noting that the company is aiming to manufacture 80% of the vehicles it sells in the United States domestically by 2030. The introduction of the Rogue hybrid with Nissan’s e-Power technology is seen as an important step in this strategy, enhancing the brand’s competitiveness in the highly contested U.S. crossover SUV market.
The Smyrna plant, which has been a centerpiece of Nissan’s manufacturing presence in the United States, has already produced millions of vehicles and is poised to expand capacity with the additional production shifts. This growth reflects broader trends in the industry as automakers invest more heavily in domestic production of electric and hybrid vehicles to meet regulatory requirements and consumer interest in cleaner, more efficient transportation.
While fueling the potential for increased employment and higher production volumes, Nissan’s move also underscores the role of the U.S. manufacturing sector in supporting the transition to electrification. The 2027 Rogue and its hybrid variant will compete in one of the largest and fastest-growing segments in the U.S. auto market, with the company leveraging its U.S. production footprint to better serve local consumers and adapt to evolving market dynamics.
This move by Nissan points to sustained investment in U.S. manufacturing infrastructure and workforce capacity, as well as confidence in the American market’s appetite for advanced vehicles offered by domestic assembly.
