Nissan Motor announced plans to expand its U.S. production capacity as it introduced the 2027 Rogue crossover equipped with a new hybrid powertrain. Christian Meunier, chairman of Nissan Americas, stated that the company is currently operating at maximum capacity at its facilities and indicated that a third production shift would be the next phase, which he anticipated could be implemented relatively quickly following the hybrid launch.
The automaker currently operates two production shifts at a 6 million-square-foot assembly plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, where the Rogue is manufactured alongside other Nissan and Infiniti crossovers. The company also operates a separate manufacturing facility in Canton, Mississippi, producing the Altima sedan and Frontier pickup truck. Meunier indicated that adding a third shift across the assembly plants could boost U.S. production to approximately 1 million units annually, compared to nearly 487,000 in 2025. The expansion would likely create hundreds or thousands of additional jobs.
Nissan unveiled the 2027 Rogue hybrid equipped with its e-Power technology, which represents a series hybrid system where the engine functions as a generator to power electric motors. The company plans to launch the traditional gasoline version at the Tennessee facility in spring, with U.S. hybrid manufacturing beginning the following year. Initially, hybrids will be imported from Japan to reach the market more expeditiously. Pricing for the Rogue hybrid ranges from $35,490 for the base model to $43,490 for the Platinum variant, with projected fuel economy of 38 miles per gallon combined.
The Rogue hybrid launch aligns with Nissan’s broader turnaround strategy and its target to produce 80% of U.S. vehicles domestically by 2030. Meunier indicated no plans currently exist for constructing a new manufacturing facility, though this may be reconsidered after 2030. The renewed focus on the U.S. market comes as Nissan has experienced improved sales performance, with U.S. sales up roughly 10% during the first half of the year compared to an industry-wide decline of approximately 3% during that same period.
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