Nissan has decided to pull its popular Ariya electric SUV from the US market starting with the 2026 model year. The move comes amid tough challenges, including a new 15% tariff on Japanese-built electric vehicles announced by President Donald Trump.
In a memo to dealers, the Japanese automaker explained that it’s halting imports of the Ariya next year to “reallocate resources and optimize its EV portfolio” as the electric vehicle landscape shifts. Nissan also shared in a statement that it’s pausing production of the 2026 Ariya for the US and focusing instead on launching the all-new 2026 Leaf. This updated Leaf will boast the lowest starting price among all new EVs available in the US right now.
Don’t worry if you’re an Ariya fan—existing dealer stock will still be available for purchase. Current owners can count on full service, parts, and warranty support from Nissan. As for a possible comeback, the company hasn’t decided yet on bringing the Ariya back for 2027.
A White House official pushed back on the idea that tariffs alone killed the Ariya, pointing out that Nissan sold fewer than 20,000 units in the US throughout 2024. But here’s the silver lining: that’s a solid 47% jump from 2023, when sales hit just over 13,000. The official argued it still wasn’t enough to keep the model going strong.
The Ariya, Nissan’s first modern electric SUV since the long-running Leaf, gets built at the company’s Tochigi plant in Japan. That means every US-bound Ariya now faces that fresh 15% tariff under the new US-Japan trade deal. Experts say this, combined with slowing EV demand and Nissan’s financial pressures, made the SUV harder to justify.
Adding to the headaches, Nissan has already cut back production of the new Leaf at the same Tochigi factory due to battery supply issues. Over the summer, the company scaled back its overall Leaf plans after China tightened exports of key rare-earth materials used in EV batteries. In the US, Nissan even delayed two upcoming electric crossovers for its Mississippi plant by about 10 months.
The Ariya only hit US roads in 2023, marking Nissan’s big step into electric SUVs after years of leaning on the affordable Leaf. Whether it returns in 2027 could depend on Nissan’s finances and if those tariffs stick around.
This all ties back to a major US-Japan agreement in July, where Japan promised $550 billion in US investments and more buys of American products like Boeing planes, farm goods, and energy items. In return, the US slapped a flat 15% tariff on most Japanese imports, including cars like the Ariya. President Trump signed the executive order on September 4, and it kicked in on September 16. The deal lets the US hike tariffs again if Japan doesn’t follow through.
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