Nissan Australia has put a line through the all-new electric Juke – and it’s only just been revealed.
The third-generation Juke compact crossover SUV unveiled in Japan this week will be fully electric, and Nissan hasn’t announced any plans to offer it outside of Europe and the UK.
The new model has been confirmed to share the same platform as the new third-generation Leaf, which has also been left off the table for our market after having previously been confirmed for a local launch.
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“Public perception can change business decisions,” said Steve Coughlan, Nissan Oceania head of communications.
But it’s understood there are no plans for the Juke to be sold in Australia – leaving Nissan with only one electric car in its lineup, the Ariya, at a time when electric vehicle (EV) demand is rising as drivers consider fuel costs, fuel security, and the ongoing environmental impacts of combustion-powered vehicles.
Then there are the strict emissions regulations in place from the Australian Government under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which will only become harder to meet for brands without multiple EV models in their ranges.
Nissan Australia recently confirmed the UK-built Juke and US-built Pathfinder would be departing local showrooms.
The new Juke will be built in the UK at the Sunderland plant, where the light SUV has been produced since its inception in 2010. The electric SUV will be launched in the UK and Europe between March and May in 2027.
The Juke’s Sunderland plant is also producing the swoopy Leaf crossover, and Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa confirmed that both share the same platform and, it’s understood, some components, despite being vastly different sizes and styles of EV.
While the Juke and Leaf have been ruled out for Australia, Nissan is still looking to expand its local EV lineup.
The brand is known to be looking at models from the Chinese Dongfeng Nissan joint venture, including the new NX8 SUV. Measuring 4870mm long, it’s slightly larger than the popular Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7 and Zeekr 7X.
Another potential option for our market is the N7 sedan, a large four-door sedan that would offer a larger alternative to the Tesla Model 3 and BYD Seal, yet could still cost less than a hybrid Honda Accord.
Those Chinese-made EV models are currently under consideration for Australia, and further news on their potential for our market is expected soon.