The mid-size pickup truck Nissan Frontier has been withdrawn from the Brazilian market. As reported by Motor1.com Brasil on August 29, the vehicle is no longer listed among new models on the manufacturer's official portal.
The replacement has already been defined: the new version will be the Frontier Pro, a plug-in hybrid model developed in China. This change was part of a plan that began at the end of 2025, when Nissan stopped production in Santa Isabel, Argentina, relocating manufacturing to Mexico.
Commercial performance was the determining factor for this decision. In 2025, the Frontier registered only 5,091 registrations, representing a 45% reduction compared to the 9,258 units sold in 2024. In the same period, other competitors showed significantly higher figures: Toyota Hilux reached 49,721 units, Ford Ranger totaled 34,047, and Chevrolet S10 recorded 31,451.
In the following year, 2026, with inventory decreasing, the sales pace dropped drastically, reaching only 34 units in July, a number lower than the 42 units sold by the BYD Shark in the same month.
The Frontier Pro is manufactured by Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile, a joint venture established between Nissan and Dongfeng, and is based on the Dongfeng Z9 model. It is important to note that this new vehicle is not a simple evolution of the pickup being discontinued. Units of the Frontier Pro were seen at the Port of Santos in February for testing and homologation purposes, and in April, Nissan confirmed its role in the brand's expansion strategy for Latin America.
This new powertrain integrates a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with electric propulsion, generating over 400 horsepower and approximately 81.6 kgfm of torque. The manufacturer reports that the battery offers a range of up to 135 km using electricity alone, calculated by the Chinese cycle. Its dimensions are 5.5 meters in length, 1.96 meters in width, 1.95 meters in height, and 3.30 meters wheelbase, in addition to having an electromechanical lock on the rear differential.
In the cabin, the vehicle features a 10-inch digital instrument panel, a 14.6-inch multimedia system, and V2L functionality of up to 6 kW. The Frontier being retired maintained the 2.3-liter twin-turbo diesel engine, which delivered 190 hp and 45.9 kgfm, coupled with a seven-speed automatic transmission and 4x4 traction.
This transition occurs in a constantly changing automotive segment. BYD Shark pioneered the introduction of a more electric-oriented turbo system with all-wheel drive in the country, although it still has a modest sales volume. Furthermore, the Volkswagen Amarok will also undergo electrification, utilizing a design from the Chinese company SAIC. For Nissan, this change represents an attempt to regain relevance in a niche where the brand lost half of its sales in a single year, doing so with a product that has no technical connection to the pickup known by Brazilian consumers.