Nissan Motor is seeking to expand its U.S. production capacity and regain market share in the compact crossover segment with the launch of the 2027 Rogue, featuring a new e-Power hybrid system. The move is part of a global turnaround plan following a period where Nissan and other automakers lost billions of dollars on all-electric vehicles due to lackluster consumer demand and a pullback in regulatory support.
The Rogue is Nissan’s strongest seller in the U.S., but sales fell 11% in 2025 to 217,896 units, and the model’s segment share dropped to 7.6%. The company is now positioning the 2027 Rogue hybrid as a crucial offering to compete with the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, which currently lead the category in hybrid sales.
Production Expansion and U.S. Strategy
Nissan is currently maxing out its U.S. production capacity, according to Christian Meunier, chairman of Nissan Americas. The company currently operates a 6 million-square-foot assembly plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, on two shifts, where it builds the Rogue alongside other Nissan and Infiniti crossovers. Nissan also operates a plant in Canton, Mississippi, for the Frontier pickup and Altima sedan.
Meunier told CNBC that the company is considering adding a third shift to each of its assembly plants, which would increase annual U.S. output to roughly 1 million units, up from nearly 487,000 in 2025. Nissan has set a target to produce 80% of the vehicles it sells in the U.S. domestically by 2030, though Meunier stated the company has no current plans for a new factory.
The rollout of the 2027 Rogue will follow a phased approach:
- Initial Launch: A limited number of hybrid units will be imported from Japan, with one or two vehicles heading to authorized retailers in November 2026. Supply is expected to reach 6,000 units by March 2027.
- Domestic Gas Production: The Smyrna plant will begin producing the gas-only 2027 Rogue in the summer of 2027.
- Domestic Hybrid Production: U.S. manufacturing of the hybrid variant is planned for the first half of 2028.
The e-Power Hybrid System
The 2027 Rogue features the e-Power series-hybrid architecture, a system Nissan has sold in nearly 2 million vehicles worldwide since 2016. Unlike traditional hybrids, the e-Power system uses a gasoline engine solely to generate electricity for the traction battery and electric motors; there is no mechanical connection between the engine and the wheels.
The system utilizes a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine and compact 5-in-1 electric units that integrate the inverter, reducer, generator, increaser, and drive motor to reduce weight and improve efficiency. With an electric motor on each axle, the Rogue Hybrid delivers all-wheel drive and a combined 225 horsepower.
Nissan provided preliminary fuel-economy estimates for the hybrid:
- City: 40 mpg
- Highway: 36 mpg
- Combined: 38 mpg
Pricing and Features
The 2027 Rogue Hybrid will initially launch this fall in the SR trim with a required $4,000 SR Technology package, priced at $43,065. The lineup will later expand to include:
- SV (Entry-level): Starting at $37,065 (with an available SV Premium package for an additional $3,100).
- SR (Regular): Starting at $39,065.
- Platinum: Starting at $45,065.
New technology for the model includes the e-Pedal regenerative braking system for one-pedal driving and ProPilot Assist features, such as Hands-off Traffic Jam Support and automatic lane changes. The vehicle is rated for a towing capacity of 1,500 pounds and features rear doors that open nearly 90 degrees.
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