It appears that Nissan is the latest manufacture to say sayonara to sedans.
According to Automotive News, both will be gone within 24 months, beginning with the Versa – which will reportedly end its 18-year-long production run after the end of the 2025 model year. Then comes – or rather, goes – the Altima, which has been around for more than 30 years.
This will leave Nissan with just one sedan – the Sentra. And that probably not for long. The question is – why? There are several possible answers but one of them makes the most sense.
These two sedans don’t cost enough.
Put another way, they cost too little relative to the devices Nissan (and other vehicle manufacturers) have bought into manufacturing but which they’re all having trouble selling. Models like the Leaf, which is so hard to sell that Nissan dealers have had to resort to giving them away, just about, in order to clear the inventory. The Ariya, which is Nissan’s other device, has likewise got a Sales Problem.
Sales of the Versa, meanwhile, are up by more than 60 percent. Yet Nissan has decided – apparently – to stop selling it. No one stops selling something that sells that well – unless they’re hoping to sell something else in its place. Something that costs more to buy – and so brings in more money. Like the latest automotive AC refrigerant, as a for-instance. It costs about $10 per can now – which is about three times as much (adjusted for inflation) as what a can of the now-very-hard-to-get-ex-refrigerant R12 used to cost 30 years ago.
Mark that part about hard-to-get.
Soon, it will be hard to get a (new) vehicle that isn’t as expensive as a device. In order to create a false equivalence between vehicles and devices, so as to “encourage” (government is always “encouraging” people to do or not do various things, by punishing them for doing or not doing them) people to buy them and thus “stimulate” (another word often used by government) sales of them.
It has become very difficult even to buy R12 (Freon) which was the automotive refrigerant in common use 30 years ago- and not just anyone can buy it, either. Before you’re allowed to buy it, you must seek and get the government’s permission – and you may only (legally) use it if you have expensive equipment the government requires the user to have. Gone are the days when anyone could just buy a can – and anyone could charge their vehicle’s AC system with it.
This may explain why Nissan is saying sayonara to the Versa, despite it selling much better than the Leaf or the Ariya.
Because that is precisely the problem.
You can buy a new Versa – which comes standard with a manual transmission – for just $16,680 that goes nearly 300 miles in “city” driving (and nearly 400 miles on the highway) on 10 gallons of gas that can be replaced in about three minutes with another 10 gallons of gas. Or you could spend $11,460 more to get the slightly smaller device Nissan calls the Leaf. It might go 149 miles on a fully charged battery, assuming you don’t try to go that far on the highway. Assuming it’s not too hot, so you don’t need to use the AC. And when it runs out of range, it’ll only take you about eight hours to get going again, if you recharge it at home.
Assuming you have paid an electrician to have your home’s garage wired up to have a 240V “Level II” place to plug the thing in. You could avoid that charge – and cut that wait down to only 30-45 minutes or so (for a partial charge) at what are cutely referred to as “fast” chargers, where it does take less time to charge a device than it does at home. But it’s still very slow compared with how little time it takes to pump 10 gallons if gas into a Versa’s tank.
Which explains why Nissan dealers are resorting to giving away devices like the Leaf, just to get them off the lot. And having no trouble getting Versas off the lot, without resorting to giving them away.
It’s a similar situation as regards the Altima – vs. the Ariya.
You can buy the former for $26,000 and for that you get a mid-sized family sedan that can take you more than 400 “city” miles – and more than 600 miles on the highway – on 16 gallons of gas that takes about the same three minutes to pump back into the tank. Or you could buy the smaller device Nissan calls the Ariya – an interesting name in these “diverse” times of ours – that will maybe take you 216 miles, if you don’t drive it on the highway. If it’s not too hot (or cold) out. When the device runs out of range, you’ll back on the road a mere 10 hours later, if you plug it in at home (assuming you have paid to have your home’s electrical panel upgraded to accommodate the additional 30 amp/240V circuit).
And it’s only cost you $13,590 more (the difference in cost between the $26,000 Altima and the $39,590 Ariya).
Now, perhaps, you see why the Versa and the Altima have got to go. They must be gotten rid-of for the same reason that VW was obliged to get rid of the 600-mile-plus (and just $23k or so) diesel-powered Jettas and Golfs it used to sell – and which sold much better than the devices VW is trying to “sell” (at a loss) now. 
Stated another way, when you’re trying to push people into buying something, it is important they not have an alternative to what is being pushed on them. Like not getting the “vaccine,” for instance – and not getting heart problems, instead.
The alternatives to devices must be gotten rid of. Especially the alternatives that sell well because people can afford them.
. . .
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“The alternatives to devices must be gotten rid of.”
Correction: Alternatives to EVERYTHING must be gotten rid of.
“All within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.” -Benito Mussolini
Nissan moved their corporate hq from Los Angeles to Frankin, TN a few years ago to escape California’s burdensome regulations and taxation.
The carpetbagger/west coast invaders may well can afford or deal with EVs or crazy expensive cars in metro-Nashville. That’s certainly not the case in Pulaski, or Lawrenceburg, or Murfreesboro, or Sweetwater, or…
Most of my friends aren’t car nuts like me, and I’ve seen them all transition from hatchbacks and sedans to SUV’s over the years. When they were young, the little cars were “cute” and “fun” but as they got married and had children, they needed bigger cars, and all bought SUV’s, despite large sedans still being available. The funny thing is, something like a RAV4 doesn’t have that much more room than, say, a Toyota Camry. The big difference is the hatchback vs the trunk.
People buy SUV’s because of AWD (and never use it) and the ability to tow (and never use it) and sitting higher and seeing better, which is important when you’re surrounded by a sea of SUV’s.
I don’t think it’s just some car company conspiracy. I think consumers have been willing to spend loads of money on SUV’s over sedans.
‘The big difference is the hatchback vs the trunk.’ — OppositeLock
Couple of months ago, I helped an out-of-state relative move, after flying into town to help. Using their Acura 4-door sedan to transport cardboard boxes was very aggravating. The boxes didn’t fit very well, weren’t stable on the seats, and I was worried about accidentally ripping the leather upholstery.
My compact SUV could easily have carried a bigger load of boxes in each trip. Ninety percent of the time I’m driving it empty. But when I need to carry stuff, that tall rectangular cargo space is essential. I’m pretty much done with sedans — not a practical vehicle envelope, especially with bobbed trunks that look like a docked tail on a Rottweiler.
The L-O-N-G tails of 1960s/1970s sedans, extending four feet or more behind the rear wheels, have been amputated. Cars have lost their spirit animal, I reckon. 🙁
I like modern wagons, like the Audi A6/S6 or Subaru Outback. It’s more convenient than a sedan, useful like an SUV, but it’s not as offroad capable for those few who need it.
I agree with you. My wife’s Passat is terrific, and the trunk is surprisingly large, but the Q5 is much better for hauling boxes and bulky stuff. And way nicer to drive than the pickup. I guess if I were forced to chose only one vehicle, for where I live and what I do it would still be some flavor of SUV.
I have a new Titan, so I’m on the lot of my Nissan dealership on occasion and I see the three Arias they have just sitting there in front. Then they stick them on the charger on the side of the building. Same for the Leafs. The cars I do see moving are the Versas, Sentras, Altimas and the Kicks. These are relatively affordable and the CVTs are much improved. That’s what folks need, affordable, economical transportation.
And, some of the employees tell me privately that they hate the EVs.
Bzzztttt! AH-OOH-GAH! AH-OOH-GAH!
DEI violation detected! Paging Human Resources first responders!
You forgot the /sarc.
Stop making cars that sell, so you can sell more of the cars that don’t sell?
Am I missing something here?
The invisible had of government is the devil’s play place.
They’re all betting big on a great new battery breakthrough. Looks great in the lab, manufacturing *should* be working by now, but taking far, far longer to work the bugs out. Because manufacturing is hard. Especially when the factory managers would rather be accountants…
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/04/boeing-corporate-america-manufacturing/678137/
Linked article is about the troubles at Boeing, and squarely puts the blame on the executive managers who are more interested in watching the stock price than building airplanes. My brief experience with attempting to acquire venture capital says pretty much any VC firm will tell you that the only thing that matters is marketing and shareholder value. Imagine trying to build a revolutionary new technology in that environment? Fake it ’til you make it… except you can’t hire the people you need to make it either.
None of the auto manufacturers are getting their hands dirty in manufacturing the solid state battery tech. Back in the day, Ford owned everything from the iron ore mines to the rubber plantation (well, didn’t work out but still), to the radio manufacturer. These days they all outsource everything, and the battery tech is no exception. They’re just cutting a check to some engineering student’s dream company. Problem is the kid’s in over his head and has no idea why his production line isn’t producing the yields his engineers are telling him should be possible. And they’re so thinly staffed that there’s no depth to call on for ideas either. But the student sold the sizzle (pretty easy when your customer asks for dreams) and when he can’t deliver it’s just a “throw more money at the problem” problem.
And then there’s the non-triviality of building up the lithium supply chain. It took decades (and German subs sinking oil tankers as they came out of the Gulf of Mexico) to build up the North American oil infrastructure. There’s an international scramble to get access to sh*thole country’s lithium deposits (because you don’t what that mining destroying our environment) before the Chicoms or Europeans. The new colonialism economy, same as the old colonialism economy. Even has the slaves and child labor. Will we get a few generations of landed gentry leading the next revolution?
Hi RK,
It doesn’t matter if they come up with a magic battery that can be recharged in five minutes, there’s no way to stuff in that many kilowatts in a short time period without melting down the power grid. Meanwhile the green NIMBYs don’t want substations or power lines in their neighborhoods while cheering on shutting down the remaining reliable base load power plants that run on natural gas or (clutches pearls) coal. Got a robocall the other day from the electric company asking everyone to reduce their load because hey it’s hot and lots of people are running the a/c….yeah who knew it gets hot in the summer. Supposed to be in the 90’s all next week so get out there and blow on those windmills 😆. These environazis are determined to turn this country into a third world sh*thole, maybe to make the migrants feel at home.
‘there’s no way to stuff in that many kilowatts in a short time period without melting down the power grid’ — Mike in Boston
Right. For instance, a Ford Mustang Mach e can accept a maximum AC charging rate of 11.5 kW. That’s about one-fourth of the 48 kW available from a 200-amp, single phase residential service panel.
It takes 11 hours to fully recharge a Mustang Mach e on a residential Level 2 charger, or about 25 miles of range added per hour.
Now let’s retrofit a solid-state miracle battery into the Mach e, that can be fully recharged in half an hour. That’s going to require Level 3 DC charging, at about 20 times the power input, or 230 kW. But even a 200-amp, 480-volt three-phase panel (a commercial service, not available in most residential neighborhoods) is good for only 166 kW — which can’t be devoted to a single load, with other circuits needing power too.
No way in hell that entire residential neighborhoods are going to be upgraded with all-new 480-volt, 3-phase service drops … and then all the houses fitted with the costly DC rectifiers used in commercial charging stations. And as MiB says, the existing grid can’t supply such demand.
Don’t expect airheads like Jenny Granholm, Mike Regan, and your typical 85-IQ Congress Clown to understand this. ‘Just right-wing EeeVee-phobia,’ they snarl. ‘Deplatform them!‘
“PJM’s real time market (of locational marginal prices calculated on 5 minute intervals based on actual grip operations) shows that at its peak Maryland’s imported electricity is more than 70% coal generated.”
(later in the article)
…But neither is in state generation, including Maryland’s three remaining coal power plants (with a combined generating capacity of nearly 1,800 megawatts), the two largest power plants intend to shut down by 2025 and the smallest plant has given notice it will shut down later this year.
MD is screwed. If I had the means I’d start putting up power generating stations along the Mason-Dixon Line (on the PA side) and get ready to export.
https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/marylands-energy-crisis-sparked-apocalyptic-environmentalism
Magical technology requires magical thinking… 🤪
“What a beautiful world it will be,
If you’d shut up and listen to me!”
https://youtu.be/Di0_KYtmVKI?si=3m9e1ePpNGrgInVV
Where’s my spandex jacket?
“These environazis are determined to turn this country into a third world sh*thole, maybe to make the migrants feel at home.”
If the “environazis” had their way, ALL LIFEFORMS would cease existence. Remember, they are “protecting” the planet, NOT its inhabitants.
What leverage could FedGov use to pressure Nissan into dropping its two most successful vehicles? WHY would they cut their throats like that, even in the face of pressure from FedGov? Nissan dealers must be SCREAMING at the top of their lungs at this idiocy! If they lose two of their best selling cars (i.e. the reasons why many people visit Nissan dealers in the first place), they know what that means to their futures.
I was considering a Versa precisely BECAUSE it’s still offered with a manual tranny! Is it still all right to say tranny instead of transmission? I don’t care; I’ll say it anyway! I may have to get one(i.e. a Versa) while the gettin’ is good. I also looked at a modern (i.e. Gen 5) Altima a few years ago; I even test drove the thing. It’s a NICE CAR! If it weren’t for the problematic CVT the Gen 5 Altima comes with, I may very well have bought the thing. After all, you have a nice, midsize sedan hitting econobox fuel economy numbers! That’s seriously impressive. I can see why the Altima is one of Nissan’s most popular cars.
Anyway, I hope Nissan tells FedGov to f*ck off.
Cars today are like a dystopian remake of that seventies TV show The Six Million Dollar Man. instead of better, faster, stronger it’s now worser, slower, weaker. Some of us here remember the malaise era of automobiles and also remember things getting better by the mid eighties, I suspect we’re heading into an electrified malaise era and many will look at the neighbors Hellcat from the window of there Leaf and sigh.
For that matter who names cars these days? They all sound like some tropical disease now.
“That thing is really put together.”
Words spoken by my friend Joe the mechanic after looking at the build of my Pathfinder. 2012 year, V6 engine. The Pathfinder has been a great vehicle. You have to maintain every vehicle.
Oil is there to make the engine happy, change it every 7500 miles. Oil breaks down, prevents wear and tear, new oil, synthetic, is a blessing in disguise.
Nissan was 20 dollars per share in 2013, the share price is hovering around seven dollars. A fall from grace, as it were.
I read a comment a few months ago where the commenter wrote to sell Nissan (nsany) if they go all electric. Nissan is going all electric in Europe, that is the future plan.
It ain’t gonna work.
I’d consider a used Maxima.
Hi drumphish, Here in PA there will be a new fee to register an EV. It will cost $200 in 2025 and $250 in 2026. This is to make up the lost revenue from the gas tax. It will probably go higher in the future. Going all electric will be expensive for most people but the government doesn’t care.Or maybe that’s the point?
Nice. At least 200 bucks is a tiny price to pay for combating Global warming/cooling/whatever. Libs will lap it up like little kittens.
$250.00?…..fees for EV’s will go far higher…
Well who saw this coming?! After incentivising low emission vehicles with sweet deals, now the marxist’s…. are pulling the rug out from underneath people… Yup, that’s right, the £10…$13.00… congestion charge is going up to £15…$19.50… per day, or £5,475….$7117.00…. per year. The Net Zero Nonsense continues!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxjoHUcZdwk
There will be plenty of gasoline if everybody drives electric vehicles.
Might as well burn the stuff to generate electricity at charging stations.
Standard Oil dumped hundreds of thousands of barrels of gasoline in the ravines around Cleveland. The nascent days of the oil industry had more than enough waste, burn it off or something.
Standard Oil’s kerosene burned clean and clear, safe combustion, you can say Standard Oil.
Rockefeller bought 6 million barrels of malodorous oil, skunk oil, removed the skunk smell with chemistry and made some money. Hasn’t stopped yet.
Herman Frasch was the chemist who figured it all out.
Other refiners were not as good, kerosene could go plaid and there’ll be a fire.
Gasoline-fueled charging stations will be necessary to burn gasoline not being burned by obsolete long gone ICE vehicles.
When pigs fly.
The charging station cables will be gone and the gasoline siphoned off and gone too.
That is what makes sense.
Go for a drive, have some fun.
So long as the religious extremists of the environmental movement are allowed to call the shots, the auto industry will be in terminal decline.
I thought we were supposed to have some type of separation of church and state. It seems, however, that GovCo is promoting one religion above all others. Its god is Earth Mother Gaia and its adherents are the likes of End Fossil and its saints such as Greta Thunburg.
Interesting, the image at the top of this enviro orgs website…
https://icfdn.org/our-impact/areas-of-impact/
I remember a story about a serpent in a garden…
‘It appears that Nissan is the latest manufacturer to say sayonara …’ — eric [materially misquoted]
Looking at the history of Nissan’s financial statements since 2009, the company hit its peak revenue of $109 billion in the year ending March 2017, and its peak earnings of $3.44 per share the following year.
https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/NSANY/nissan-motor/financial-statements
Revenue in the year ended March 2023 was $78.4 billion, down an horrific 28 percent from six years ago. Earnings were $0.84 per share, down a shattering 76 percent from five years ago.
Nissan is the opposite of a growth company. It is a self-liquidating zombie company, on a path to disappearance. Nissan arrested its former chairman Carlos Ghosn in late 2018 for alleged accounting irregularities, and has been in management turmoil ever since.
Most likely, the next recession will bankrupt Nissan, one of Japan’s weaker automotive players. Toyota may be able to pick up some of its tangible assets for pennies on the dollar at Nissan’s bankruptcy liquidation sale in Yokohama.
So it goes in the brain-dead, fading automotive industry.
They roll up the streets
When the sun goes down
I’m a midnight girl
In a sunset town
— Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Midnight Girl / Sunset Town