Nissan Motor is planning to boost its U.S. manufacturing capacity as it prepares to launch the 2027 Rogue crossover, including a new hybrid version that is seen as vital for capturing American consumer interest. Currently operating with two production shifts at its Smyrna, Tennessee plant, Nissan is considering adding a third shift, which could create hundreds or thousands of additional jobs. The U.S. production expansion aligns with the company’s goal to manufacture about 80% of the vehicles it sells domestically by 2030, although no new plant construction is planned for the near future. Nissan’s Smyrna facility produces multiple Nissan and Infiniti crossover models, while another plant in Canton, Mississippi assembles the Altima sedan and Frontier pickup truck.

The new 2027 Rogue hybrid features Nissan’s innovative “e-Power” system, a series hybrid technology that powers the wheels exclusively with electric motors, while a gasoline engine functions solely as a generator. This design eliminates the need for plugging in, unlike traditional plug-in hybrids, and offers an alternative to fully electric vehicles. Nissan intends to start U.S. production of the hybrid variant next year after initially importing the vehicles from Japan to quickly enter the market and support the company’s broader global turnaround. Prices for the hybrid Rogue will start at $35,490 and go up to $43,490 for higher trim levels.

Christian Meunier, chairman of Nissan Americas, has emphasized the importance of the hybrid Rogue and the revival of the off-road Xterra SUV as key priorities since rejoining Nissan in early 2025. The Rogue competes in a fierce small crossover segment against dominant rivals such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, both of which have popular hybrid models. Nissan plans to position the Rogue hybrid aggressively against the RAV4, including innovative dealership programs like offering customers the ability to test drive both models side-by-side despite Toyota vehicles typically not being available at Nissan locations. Meunier believes the hybrid’s introduction will significantly enhance Nissan’s performance in the U.S. market.

This push comes amid Nissan’s global strategy to streamline its product lineup and boost sales volume, aiming for one million vehicles sold annually in both the U.S. and China by 2030. The company is also increasing its use of technologies such as artificial intelligence to improve competitiveness. Nissan’s U.S. sales have recently shown a 10% increase in the first half of this year, outperforming the broader industry trend. Meunier expressed optimism about finishing 2026 strongly despite challenges, reflecting positive momentum as Nissan advances its turnaround efforts and expands its U.S. production footprint with the introduction of the new Rogue hybrid.