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News - Nissan - AriyaAriya to help chart NVES course says NissanNissan to balance NVES targets with HEV and BEV but not at expense of Navara, Patrol8 Sep 2025 By MATT BROGAN NISSAN launched the Ariya battery electric medium SUV into the jaws of the Australian federal government’s New Vehicle Emissions Standard (NVES), which is changing the state of play for a variety of importers reliant on the popularity of high-emitting utes and four-wheel drives to turn a profit.
Admitting its Navara light commercial utility and Patrol four-wheel drive are “significant” drivers in its local success, Nissan Australia says the Ariya will play a critical part in charting the NVES course.
It says selling an electric-powered SUV in a bustling segment will aid in levelling the burden carried by its petrol-electric E-Power models while offering Nissan customers a practical and stylish family car.
Speaking with GoAuto at the Australian launch of the Nissan Ariya in Victoria this week, Nissan Oceania managing director Andrew Humberstone said the importer’s strategy is one that will balance the sale of hybrid and electric models to avoid NVES penalties being passed on to other buyers in the Nissan portfolio.
“I think we’re going to get there. We’re working towards being in the right place. As a company I think we are in a much better place than a lot of our competitors – which is a good thing,” he stated.
“The product is already there. It’s available. But it is customer driven in a sense – and we have two very clear spaces (people seeking off-roaders and those chasing electrified efficiency) to that point.
“We have the Navara and Patrol ute and four-wheel drive customer base, and we have this amazing breadth of electrified products that will allow us to help take passenger and SUV customers on their journey.”
Mr Humberstone said that while it was important Nissan offers a range of vehicles to help meet its emissions obligations, it would not force customers into vehicles that were not fit for purpose.
He insisted models like the Navara and Patrol would continue to meet the demands of commercial, trade, and recreational users, being offset wherever possible by petrol-electric hybrid and fully electric models elsewhere in the range.
“Our customer needs to be the narrative thread, as opposed to NVES,” he told GoAuto.
“Therefore, there are product (ranges) where we still want to have ICE vehicles, because we know there are customers that still want ICE.
“We also know there are customers that are in in the hybrid space – and that space has almost doubled in recent times.
“So, we need to choose a product that can become an authentically E-Power (hybrid) space, while continuing to have ICE in other produces.
“When we look at NVES, and how we offset the demand from our Navara and Patrol ranges, one of the questions I am asked is ‘Will I control the supply at the top end?’, and the answer is no. To the contrary.
“If we have Navara and Patrol customers that want more and more product we will continue to push (for it), because that is what being customer centric means.
“What I have to do is focus on the electrified space and how to continue to expand and accelerate that space to grow our brand.”
Mr Humberstone announced that the Qashqai small SUV range will become all E-Power from next year, further assisting Nissan in balancing its NVES demands.
With Ariya now joining the range – and hybrid models available elsewhere in the range – it appears the importer is in a good place to meet its future targets.
“We have the product portfolio (available to us). We just have to manage it and balance those books,” he added.
“Are there times when we might have to pay (a penalty)? Quite possibly. But overall, I think we will come out just fine.”  Read more8th of September 2025  Nissan Qashqai to go hybrid-onlye-Power only for Nissan Qashqai as importer works towards greener line-up8th of September 2025  Nissan reminds customers of 10-year warrantyLimited time remains for eligible Nissan customers to unlock 10-year/300,000km warranty |
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