Nissan Hits Pause Button on Ariya EV for 2026

Key Points:

• Nissan has halted production of the all-electric Ariya for 2026 in an effort to consolidate resources.
• The redesigned 2026 Leaf will be the only Nissan electric vehicle on sale in the U.S. for the new model year.

Nissan is canceling the 2026 Ariya electric SUV for the U.S., according to an Automotive News report Thursday. The report cites slowing electric-vehicle sales, ongoing import tariffs and the end of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit come Sept. 30.

Related: The EV Tax Credit Is Ending; What Should an EV Shopper Do Now, and What’s Next?

A Little Ariya Lore

The Ariya five-seat SUV launched for 2023 after delays, but it impressed with its premium cabin, comfortable ride and a potent dual-motor e-4orce variant. However, it was priced higher than many electric SUVs, exceeding $60,000 for the top trim level. Nissan subsequently cut prices, and the 2025 Ariya with a larger 87-kilowatt-hour battery pack and more competitive 289-mile EPA-rated max range had an equally more competitive price in the low-$40,000 range.

However, while sales of the Ariya increased 24% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same time in 2024, the Ariya was the beleaguered brand’s second-worst-selling SUV ahead of the full-size Armada.

In the meantime, Nissan will reallocate resources to its more affordable EV, the updated 2026 Leaf. The Leaf — which was the first mass-produced EV to launch for the 2010 model year — has grown from a hatchback to a crossover. Production of the new model has shifted away from Smyrna, Tenn., which is near Nissan’s North American headquarters and where the old Leaf had been manufactured since 2013, to Tochigi, Japan. (The Ariya is also built in Tochigi.)

In May, Nissan announced it would slash its workforce by 15% and cut its global manufacturing plants from 17 to 10 in an effort to reduce costs and streamline efforts. The automaker had been the subject of mergers and acquisitions prior to that, and a planned merger with Honda fell apart in February. Nissan’s plans to convert its Canton, Miss., factory into an EV hub producing two distinct EVs by 2028 also appears to be in jeopardy; in July, the company reportedly announced it delayed EV production there by at least 10 months.

Can You Still Buy a Nissan Ariya?

Nissan didn’t rule out the Ariya’s return for later. But for shoppers who are interested in buying an Ariya now, the 2025 model can still be found on dealer lots where available. For those who still want a 2026 EV, the new Leaf is still expected to go on sale in the fall.

Read More About Nissan EVs:

• 2025 Nissan Ariya Gets Standard Wireless Phone Charging, Starts at $41,160
• Nissan EVs to Gain Access to Tesla Supercharger Network
• Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy
• All-New 2026 Nissan Leaf Remains Cheapest EV Available, Starts at $31,485
• 2026 Nissan Leaf Up Close: Third Time’s Truly a Charm

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