Nissan is considering producing the Kicks in Sunderland
- Produced since 2024 in Brazil and Mexico for Latin American markets, the Nissan Kicks—a B-segment compact SUV featuring a full-hybrid powertrain—is set to launch in Europe in 2027. The European version will be manufactured at Nissan’s Sunderland plant in England. This facility is currently underutilized; in 2025, it operated at 60% of its capacity, producing 274,905 vehicles out of an annual capacity of 450,000. This is despite the plant handling three models on its assembly lines (the Qashqai, Juke, and Leaf), with two more—an all-electric Juke and a model from the Chinese brand Jaecoo—expected to arrive by 2027.
- The Nissan Kicks will arrive in Europe alongside the launch of the new electric Nissan Juke, which will also be produced in Sunderland. It appears that the Nissan Kicks is intended to gradually replace the combustion-engine Nissan Juke, a model that dates back to 2019. The new electric Juke will not be offered with a combustion engine.
- The Nissan Kicks will be available with an "e-Power" full-hybrid system—a powertrain already featured in the Qashqai. It is worth noting that this system differs from Renault’s hybrid technology: in Nissan’s setup, the wheels are driven exclusively by an electric motor, whereas in Renault’s system, either the combustion engine or the electric motor can drive the wheels.
- Measuring 4.30 meters in length, the Nissan Kicks will compete in the European market against models such as the Renault Captur (4.23 m), Peugeot 2008 (4.30 m), VW T-Cross (4.11 m), Hyundai Bayon (4.18 m), and Kia Seltos (4.43 m). For comparison, the current Nissan Juke measures 4.21 meters.
- Inovev forecasts annual sales of 45,000 units for the new Nissan Kicks in Europe.