Nissan to Shift Some Rogue SUV Production to U.S. Amid Tariff Pressures

Nissan Motor Co. (OTC: NSANY) is reportedly planning to shift part of its Rogue SUV production from Japan to the United States in response to escalating trade tensions under President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, according to Japan’s Nikkei newspaper.

The move could begin as early as this summer, with production at Nissan’s Fukuoka plant in western Japan expected to decrease. The company aims to relocate some manufacturing of the U.S.-bound Rogue SUV to its existing facility in Smyrna, Tennessee. This shift is intended to offset the growing cost impact of tariffs on Japanese exports to the U.S.

The Rogue, a top-selling model for Nissan in the American market, is currently built in both Japan and the U.S. The company had previously planned to reduce one of two production shifts at its Smyrna plant by this month but now intends to maintain both shifts due to the updated strategy.

On Thursday, Nissan also announced it would stop taking new U.S. orders for two Mexico-produced Infiniti SUVs, following earlier tariff-related announcements. The decision marks a significant pullback from operations at a joint venture plant affected by the tariffs.

In 2024, Nissan sold approximately 920,000 vehicles in the U.S., with around 16% imported from Japan. The proposed production changes may impact Japanese suppliers that support Nissan’s domestic manufacturing operations.

As automakers face growing uncertainty from global trade disputes, Nissan’s strategy reflects a broader industry trend toward localizing production to reduce exposure to tariffs and supply chain disruptions. The shift could strengthen Nissan’s U.S. manufacturing footprint while easing the financial strain of international trade barriers.