Nissan Motor announced plans to expand its U.S. production capacity by adding a third shift at its assembly plants, with the introduction of the 2027 Rogue crossover and its new hybrid model serving as key drivers of this expansion. Christian Meunier, chairman of Nissan Americas, indicated the company is currently operating at maximum capacity across its two existing manufacturing facilities and views the hybrid launch as an opportunity to accelerate the transition to increased production levels.
The company operates a 6 million-square-foot assembly plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, producing Rogue and other crossovers, as well as a facility in Canton, Mississippi, manufacturing the Altima sedan and Frontier pickup truck. If Nissan successfully implements a third shift across its plants, the automaker projects annual U.S. production could reach approximately 1 million units, compared to nearly 487,000 units in 2025. Such expansion would likely result in hundreds or thousands of new manufacturing jobs. The hybrid version will initially be imported from Japan before domestic U.S. production begins next year following a spring launch of the gas-powered 2027 Rogue.
The Rogue e-Power represents a series hybrid design that uses an engine to power electric motors rather than directly propelling the vehicle, distinguishing it from conventional hybrids. Nissan priced the hybrid model between $35,490 and $43,490, positioning it to compete directly against the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V in the small crossover segment. The new Rogue hybrid delivers 38 miles per gallon combined fuel economy. Meunier emphasized the significance of this launch, noting that the Rogue has historically led company sales in the U.S. without a hybrid option.
Nissan’s production expansion aligns with the company’s broader global turnaround strategy aimed at streamlining its product lineup and targeting 1 million vehicle sales for the Nissan brand in the U.S. and China by 2030. The company has stated it intends to achieve 80% domestic production of U.S. market vehicles by 2030 without currently planning new manufacturing facilities. Recent performance shows U.S. sales increased roughly 10% through the first half of the year compared with the broader industry’s roughly 3% decline, indicating early success in the turnaround effort.
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