Nissan Ariya EV sales delayed

Nissan is delaying the release of its flagship electric Ariya SUV until at least late 2021, citing the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and semiconductor shortages.

Unveiling the Ariya in July last year, Nissan said at the time it was due on sale in mid-2021 but it has now announced a limited-edition model will be available in Japan late this year followed by a wider domestic and global roll-out, Bloomberg reports.

Bloomberg says the struggle to roll out new models amid a global shortage of automotive chips is one that automotive manufacturers worldwide are facing.

“But the need for a smooth roll-out of the Ariya is particularly acute for Nissan. Analysts have highlighted the model as key to the Japanese car company’s performance going forward, and Nissan itself touts the model as its flagship vehicle, embodying its decades-long reputation for churning out high-tech autos.”

Nissan expects the chip shortage to impact about 500,000 units of its output this financial year.

And it’s aiming for tens of thousands of Ariya sales, particularly in Europe.