Nissan has confirmed right-hand-drive production for the new Navara Pro PHEV, a Chinese-built double-cab bakkie offering 300 kW and 800 Nm. But will it come to SA?
- Navara Pro PHEV to be built in right-hand drive
- Double-cab bakkie to offer 300 kW and 800 Nm
- Zhengzhou Nissan applies for trademarks in SA
Nissan has confirmed that the new Navara Pro PHEV double-cab bakkie – a product of the Japanese brand’s joint-venture operation in China – will also be produced in right-hand drive, a move that potentially opens the door to a launch in South Africa.
Revealed in China as the Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in April 2025, the bakkie is based on the Nissan Yuanye Z9 already offered in that market – and indeed produced by Zhengzhou Nissan, the brand’s joint venture with Dongfeng.
Now, Nissan has confirmed that sales will soon begin in left-hand-drive country Mexico (where the bakkie will be badged as the Frontier Pro), making it the first market outside China to receive this model and “highlighting China’s growing role as an innovation and export hub for Nissan”. Other Latin American markets are set to follow by the end of 2026.
Nissan also says the ladder-frame bakkie will launch as the Navara Pro in the Philippines and the Middle East before the end of 2026, “followed by the first right-hand-drive markets, Australia and New Zealand, in 2027”. Interestingly, the brand’s global press material suggests the Navara Pro will furthermore be available with pure petrol and turbodiesel powertrains, depending on the market.
While the company’s press material makes no mention of African markets, Cars.co.za has discovered that Zhengzhou Nissan Automobiles (ZNA) filed to trademark the “ZNAZ9” badge in South Africa late in 2024, before applying to protect the “ZNA” name as recently as September 2026. Of course, these trademark applications are by no means a guarantee the automaker will launch this model here.
For the record, the version revealed at Auto Shanghai 2025 featured a plug-in hybrid arrangement built around a turbocharged 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine, with a “high output” electric motor mounted to the automatic transmission. Total system outputs were quoted as being “over 300 kW” and “up to 800 Nm”.
Meanwhile, the right-hand-drive iteration now confirmed for Australia will upgrade to a new turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol PHEV drivetrain, seemingly offering the same (preliminary) outputs. Battery specifications have yet to be announced. Nissan’s division Down Under has, however, confirmed a payload of “approximately 1 000 kg” and a 3 500 kg braked towing capacity, subject to “final homologation”.
As a reminder, production of the D23-series Navara in South Africa ended in May 2026, with Nissan having sold its Rosslyn factory to Chinese automaker, the Chery Group. While countries like Australia have moved on to a next-generation Navara based on the latest Mitsubishi Triton, the old model soldiers on here in Mzansi, with the Thailand-built version set to arrive later this year.
Of course, it remains to be seen whether the Navara Pro PHEV will make it to South African roads and be offered alongside the long-in-the-tooth D23-series model, but the confirmation of right-hand-drive production at least gives Nissan SA a theoretical option to take on the likes of the BYD Shark 6 and JAC T9 PHEV…
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is the new Nissan Navara Pro PHEV confirmed for South Africa?
A: While not officially confirmed for South Africa, Nissan has confirmed right-hand-drive (RHD) production for markets like Australia and New Zealand starting in 2027. Additionally, Zhengzhou Nissan filed to trademark “ZNA” names in SA, opening the possibility for a local launch.
Q: What are the performance and towing specs for the Nissan Navara Pro PHEV?
A: The right-hand-drive Navara Pro PHEV features a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol plug-in hybrid setup delivering over 300 kW of power and 800 Nm of torque. It offers a 3 500 kg braked towing capacity and a payload of approximately 1 000 kg.
Q: Where is the Nissan Navara Pro PHEV built?
A: The bakkie is produced in China by Zhengzhou Nissan (a joint venture between Nissan and Dongfeng) and is based on the local market’s Nissan Yuanye Z9 platform.
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Ryan Bubear
Having written about everything from sport and politics to crime, Ryan eventually settled on motoring. For well over 15 years, he's been penning articles – both online and in print – about the broader automotive industry, though he's particularly fascinated by vehicle-sales statistics. A freelance writer and editor, Ryan has owned a 1971 Austin Mini Mk3 for 20-plus years.
