Still unnamed newcomer will, as with the NP200, ride on a Renault platform, in this case, the Oroch-replacing Niagra reportedly due in 2027.
Nissan’s President for operations in Latin America has confirmed speculation uncovered at the end of last year that a half-ton bakkie aimed at the Fiat Toro and Chevrolet Montana will happen as part of a joint venture with alliance partner, Renault.
Although not part of its “Arc” product strategy launched in April this year, the still unnamed newcomer will in fact conform to the separate Mobilise scheme involving the Frontier, its twin, the Renault Alaskan, and the incoming Renault Niagara
Omitting the Mitsubishi Triton, which will provide the base for the next generation Navara, known as the Frontier in South America, and by extension, the Alaskan, the Mobilise roll-out will see Nissan leverage off of the Niagara’s platform in creating a replacement for the NP200 sold only in South Africa as a rebadged version of the original Dacia/Renault Logan Pick-Up.
According to motor1.com Brazil, the announcement by Guy Rodriguez, although made at Nissan Brazil’s head office in São Paulo, won’t involve production in said region.
Instead, the Santa Isabel plant in Argentina will produce the newcomer alongside the Niagara Renault last year confirmed would only go on-sale in 2027.
While no timeline for the Nissan version was released, the publication states that, similar to the Alaskan and Frontier also made at the same facility, a model specific exterior design will be applied more than likely derived from the all-new Navara tipped for introduction next year.
Whereas the Niagara will seemingly replace the dated first generation Dacia/Renault Duster-based Oroch, the Nissan equivalent will fill a gap in Latin America below the Navara currently frequented not only by the Toro and Montana, but also the Ford Maverick and the ageing Volkswagen Saveiro.
While a replacement for the latter has since been approved for 2026, it remains unknown as to whether Nissan will devise a right-hand-drive programme or keep the steering gear exclusively on the left.
The same applies to Renault, who had been expected to debut the Oroch in South Africa following the showing of a prototype at the Nampo Agricultural Expo in Bothaville in the Free State last year.
In announcing its product line-up for this year though, Renault importer Motus told The Citizen in a statement that “unfavourable economic market factors, in particular the degradation of the exchange rate”, has left it with no option but to delay the Oroch that had originally been projected to go on-sale in in 2020.
Nissan itself meanwhile ended production of the NP200 after 16 years at its Rosslyn Plant outside Pretoria on 31 March after plans to introduce a successor failed due to Russia’s War on Ukraine.
In a statement released in October, Nissan South Africa said planning had already started to sourcing a replacement from the Federation, which had to be called off due to the conflict as well as Nissan and Renault withdrawing in addition to selling it factories, the latter for a reported €1 with a buyback clause after six years.
The ending of the NP200 and ensuing restructuring has seen 400 of Nissan’s 1 600 employees being retrenched despite reported plans being afoot to supplement ongoing Navara production with another model at some stage.
“During the consultation phase we will work with our employees, their representatives, and our partners to minimise the impact on our people and investigate other opportunities for them and for the business to ensure a sustainable future for the brand in South Africa,” Nissan’s statement read.
For the time being, no further details about the Niagara or its Nissan’s sibling are known, however, expect more to become apparent heading into 2025.
NOW READ: Calculation error sees Nissan NP200 bow-out as sales runner-up
