Nissan is scaling back its U.S. electric vehicle ambitions, dropping plans for one of five EVs previously slated for production at its Canton, Mississippi plant. The automaker will now build the small electric crossover — known internally as PZ1L — at its Sunderland facility in the UK instead, Automotive News reported Wednesday.
The timeline for Canton’s EV transformation keeps shifting. What started as a 2025 target moved to 2027, and now production won’t begin until 2028. This represents a significant delay for Nissan’s $500 million investment in the facility.
“We’re focusing our planning efforts on the other four EV projects for the Canton plant,” Nissan spokesperson Brian Brockman told Green Car Reports. “These will better meet market needs and deliver higher volumes.” He noted that Nissan continues evaluating opportunities for additional models.
The Canton facility currently produces the Altima sedan and Frontier pickup truck.
Manufacturing spokesperson Amanda Plecas reaffirmed Nissan’s commitment to electrification last week in comments to the Madison Country Journal. “Our Canton facility will transform into a Nissan Intelligent Factory, supporting the manufacture of five next-generation electric vehicles beginning in 2028.”
The PZ1L’s move to Sunderland adds to that plant’s growing EV lineup. Nissan confirmed three electric crossovers for UK production in 2023, including electric versions of the Juke and Qashqai. The third vehicle — expected to be the Leaf’s crossover-styled successor — should reach U.S. shores for the 2027 model year.
These changes come amid broader challenges for Nissan. The automaker announced plans to cut 9,000 jobs globally — about 6.7% of its workforce — and reduce production capacity by 20% due to falling sales in the U.S. and China. These pressures have led Nissan to pursue a merger with Honda, targeting completion by 2026.
Questions remain about Canton’s workforce as the plant transitions to more automated, zero-emission production methods. Nissan officials haven’t addressed rumors of potential downsizing during the transformation.
