Nissan Motor Co. said on June 9 that it will launch a new compact SUV equipped with its most cutting-edge hybrid system in the Japanese market, a move seen as an effort to reverse declining domestic sales.
The new-generation model, named the Nissan Kicks, is expected to hit showrooms in the second half of 2026. The hybrid version will feature e-Power, Nissan's proprietary hybrid technology, where a gasoline engine acts as a generator to supply power to the electric motor that drives the wheels.
Earlier, Nissan's sales in Japan for the fiscal year 2025 (ending March 2026) fell 12% year on year to just 320,000 vehicles. The launch of the hybrid Kicks is expected to attract Japanese consumers who prefer fuel-efficient and eco-friendly cars.
Beyond the Nissan Kicks, rivals such as Toyota and Honda have already rapidly captured the compact hybrid SUV market in Japan. However, Nissan believes e-Power technology, with its near-silent operation and low fuel consumption, will give the new model a competitive edge.
Detailed technical specifications and pricing for the Nissan Kicks hybrid in Japan have not been officially released. The company said it will disclose more information closer to the launch date.
