There is no official word yet.
The Titan pickup was updated by Nissan for the 2020 model year. But that’s not the only change. According to Bloomberg, the automaker is considering a Motor City startup for electrifying the full-size pickup. Hercules Electric Vehicles , which introduced an electric pickup in May, the Alpha, would supply Nissan with an electric motor in return for parts.
Titan sales dropped 37.5 percent in 2019, selling only 31,514 units of the truck. 2020 doesn’t look much better. CarSalesBase reported that Nissan sold less than 20,000 Titans in September. It’s not clear if electrified powertrains would increase sales. Although automakers are eager to offer premium EV pickups to customers, it is not clear if they will have enough buyers. Nissan’s ambitious turnaround plan will likely mean that cash is tight. Therefore, it makes sense to find a partner for an electric powertrain.
Nissan unveiled its plan to revive its lineup this spring. The company said it would introduce 12 new models in the next 18 months. The Titan was not mentioned as one of the new offerings. Sources from Bloomberg, who are “people familiar” with the matter, suggest that there is still the possibility of the two not reaching a deal.
In the coming years, we will see many stories about automakers, startups and other companies vying to be part of an electrified future. The role of pickup trucks in electrification efforts by automakers is becoming increasingly important. In anticipation of the future, Ford, GM and Rivian are preparing such products. If Nissan wants to stay competitive, it will have to match the offerings of the Big Three domestic players.