Nissan is looking to leverage its partnerships in China more, which paves the way for models like the Frontier Pro and Terrano in Australia.
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Nissan has taken to the 2026 Beijing motor show to underscore the importance of its ties with China, especially for Australia, as it looks to realigns its business strategy for sustained growth .
This opens the doors for Chinese joint venture models like the Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute and just-revealed Terrano, but Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa stopped short of confirming either model for the local market when asked by Drive.
“There is nothing we can confirm today, but of course it [Australia] is a potential destination for products, not only from China, but from the rest of Nissan ecosystem,” Espinosa told Drive during a global round table in China.
“China will play a very important role in Nissan Global’s future.
“China has two priorities for us; one is improving the performance in the market in China.
“And the other is utilising China to help us be more competitive overseas, not only by exporting cars, but exporting the know-how, the technologies that we are discovering here and being more competitive as always.”
However, that information is yet to be verified.
Likewise, the new Terrano – revealed in concept form at the 2026 Beijing motor show and likely sharing the same underpinnings as the Frontier Pro – could also make its way Down Under as a large hybrid SUV.
Both cars are built in conjunction with Chinese partner Dongfeng.
Also on the table from its partner are the N7 electric sedan and NX8 SUV – both earmarked for a potential launch in Australia with the former an all-electric rival to the Tesla Model 3, and the latter a large SUV also available as a extended range electric vehicle (EREV) that functions like Nissan’s current e-Power hybrid technology.
Having recently axed models like the Pathfinder, Juke, and next-generation Leaf in Australia, Nissan could turn to China to once again bulk out its line-up, and keep it cost-competitive against the likes of BYD, GWM, and MG.
Despite slimming down the range, and not confirming any new products for Australia, Espinosa said the local market remains crucial to the company’s future.
“Nothing, unfortunately, to confirm today, but what I can tell you is that Australia plays a very important role in our company,” Espinosa said.
“Of course, we can export cars from China, but now we can export cars from other locations, and we have recently reinforced our e-Power line-up there with the X-Trail and Qashqai.
“And we will continue addressing customer needs. One long-awaited product that is coming soon, which is Patrol.
“We just launched as well, the Navara pick-up, so this shows Australia is a very relevant market for us.”
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Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
