A shadowy teaser image showing the next-generation Nissan Navara has appeared, with the Japanese firm also hinting at the new bakkie’s range of powertrain options…
The shadowy teaser image above represents our first official glimpse at the next-generation Nissan Navara, which looks set to eventually be offered with a range of powertrain options (depending on the market, of course).
The upcoming bakkie – which is expected to share much with the new Mitsubishi Triton thanks to the global Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance – appeared in a video clip played during the presentation of the Japanese firm’s latest business plan.
Nissan says the latter plan includes the “use of strategic partnerships to increase global unit sales and improve profitability”. In fact, the company intends to launch as many as 30 new models over the next 3 years, of which 16 will be electrified and 14 will be internal-combustion engine (ICE) models. This approach will allow Nissan to “meet the diversified customer needs in markets where the pace of electrification differs”, it says.
But back to the upcoming new Navara. Though Nissan didn’t mention the bakkie by name, it confirmed that a “next-gen 1-tonne pickup” formed a part of its global plans, adding that the powertrain options for this model would include both EV and PHEV (that is, electric and plug-in hybrid options).
These electrified powertrains (which we suspect won’t be available from launch, instead arriving further down the line) are seemingly in addition to whatever ICE options – either from Nissan itself or indeed Mitsubishi’s latest 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine, as used in the new Triton – end up being offered. Whatever the case, don’t expect Nissan to drop a V6 into the new version of its bakkie.
Interestingly, the 1-tonne bakkie isn’t mentioned in Nissan’s specific plans for Africa. Instead, the Japanese firm only says it will launch 2 “all-new SUVs” and expand its “A-segment ICE vehicle” offering on our continent.
The bakkie has, however, been confirmed for the Oceania region, where it will launch in the company’s 2026 fiscal year (which closes at the end of March 2026). Australian publication Drive, meanwhile, claims a full reveal will take place before the end of 2024, with sales starting in that country at some point in 2025.
As a reminder, the long-in-the-tooth D23-generation Nissan Navara is currently manufactured at the automaker’s factory in Rosslyn (as well as in markets such as Thailand and South America). Production of the NP200 half-tonner, meanwhile, is scheduled to end at the same South African facility this month, prompting a “restructuring” of the local business (since a replacement model has seemingly not been found).
In February 2024, the Nissan Navara placed 6th on the list of South Africa’s best-selling bakkies. In 2023, the Rosslyn-built model likewise finished just outside of the top 5, with 4 596 units (a year-on-year decline of 24.2%) registered around Mzansi during the year.
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