However, Nissan did not provide a new production date, saying only that it would provide an update to suppliers in mid-June. “I think it will take at least another six to eight months for [Nissan] to announce a new plan,” said one supplier, who asked not to be named.

Nissan originally planned to start production of the electric sedan in June 2026, but has so far delayed the plan twice, and previously announced plans to start production of the new electric sedan in November 2026.

Jeremie Papin, Nissan’s chairman of the Americas, told Automotive News in an interview last week that Nissan is taking a “pragmatic and proactive approach” to consumer interest in electric vehicles and that “the important thing is to make sure that we deliver models that consumers want at the time they want them.”

Nissan has revealed that it will build more electric models at its Canton plant, bringing the number to five. According to Global Data, the fifth model, code named PZ1L, will likely be a Rogue Sport-sized crossover. At the same time, Nissan will change the production sequence of electric vehicles, and will produce two crossover models first, instead of sedans.

Sam Fiorani, vice president of Auto-Forecast Solutions, said: “Trying to find the right electric vehicle portfolio and launch the right electric model for the market at the right time is critical to Nissan’s success. This is probably the most important decision in Nissan’s history.”

At the same time as delaying U.S. electric car production plans, Nissan is rethinking its EV research and development and procurement strategy. According to Nissan’s medium-term business plan unveiled at the end of March, its future electric models will feature “next generation modular manufacturing,” group sourcing and battery innovation.

Some suppliers have said that Nissan’s future electric models will share parts to improve cost efficiency. “They want us to use the same tools to produce parts for all electric models,” the supplier said, adding that Nissan needed time to develop a product line to accommodate shared parts.

In addition, Nissan is also waiting to see the outcome of the U.S. presidential election in November, because if former President Donald Trump is elected, his administration may abandon the Biden administration’s electric vehicle incentives.

The lack of certainty about Nissan’s electric vehicle production plans has unnerved suppliers who need to free up resources for new projects. “These companies, big and small, will not bid on a new car project unless they are sure it will go into production,” Fiorani said.

Papin said Nissan would soon clarify plans for electric vehicle production and “one of the plans we will come up with is more favorable to (suppliers).” Sharing parts across multiple electric models will give suppliers greater economies of scale and “reduce” business risks, Papin said.

A near-term concern for Nissan and its suppliers, though, is declining vehicle production at the Canton plant. At the Canton plant, Nissan builds three models and was originally scheduled to produce 410,000 vehicles a year, but that capacity was reduced to about 270,000 a year a few years ago.

According to supplier reports reviewed by Automotive News, production at the plant is expected to drop 17 percent to 204,559 vehicles in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. The plant will stop production of the Titan full-size pickup this summer, and it had planned to stop production of the Altima sedan in the second half of 2025, but it has pushed back the Altima production date.

According to the supplier, “If production of the Altima cannot continue, Nissan’s supply base in the region could disappear.” Because production is so small, the company will supply to Canton from other plants, and Nissan’s transportation costs will go up.”