By Kentaro Otsuka and Masato Takamura / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers

Nissan Motor Co. will significantly reduce the time needed to develop new vehicle models by utilizing AI, President and CEO Ivan Espinosa said during an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun.

The automaker plans to cut the development time needed for the Skyline, a foundational brand for Nissan, by more than half to 26 months. It intends to launch the new Skyline model as early as the first half of 2027.

Nissan aims to accelerate market launches by shortening its development cycle. The automaker hopes this measure will help the company recover from the hardships it faces in domestic and international markets.

The Skyline, a sports sedan first introduced in 1957, is Nissan's longest-running model. The current model, released in 2014, is the 13th generation. The planned new model will be the vehicle's first full redesign in about 13 years.

The development period for Skyline models has been around 55 months, but the new approach will utilize AI to analyze past vehicle data and conduct market research necessary for development. In the design phase, augmented reality $(AR)$ goggles will be used to manipulate 3D models, enabling instant revisions. This will eliminate the need for the extensive use of physical models, thereby shortening the development timeline.

As a result, the company will be able to achieve a development speed on par with Chinese automakers, which are considered the fastest in the world. The same development methodology will be applied to other models.

Two years have passed since Nissan began considering collaboration with Honda Motor Co. Negotiations for a merger failed during this period. Espinosa said the company is taking so much time because the project is complex.

Espinosa said the two automakers have room for collaboration as both companies need to procure HV batteries in the United States. He also revealed that Nissan is considering collaborating with Honda to partially standardize the software used in software-defined vehicles.

Espinosa also referred to Nissan's growth strategies in Japan, the United States and China -- which he identified as priority markets for the company's business restructuring.

He identified Japan, where sales have remained sluggish, as the automaker's most important market, adding that the company is considering launching two new cars, including a micro sport utility vehicle (SUV). Espinosa stressed that he wants to convey a message that the domestic market is extremely important to Nissan by launching many products.

Nissan plans to release new models of the Kicks, a compact SUV, and Elgrand, a premium minivan, in 2026.

From 2027, the automaker plans to halve the development time through AI-driven vehicle design, helping the company accelerate redesigning models such as the Skyline.

The two new vehicles the company is considering to release include an SUV smaller than the Kicks, Espinosa said.

It also plans to release a car sized between the Note compact car and the Serena minivan. Cars of comparable size -- such as Toyota Motor Corp's Sienta -- are popular in Japan and are in high demand from dealerships.

Espinosa said Nissan will need to establish its own uniqueness as the company is following a trend that has already been established.

Espinosa revealed that Nissan plans to launch five large vehicle models in the United States by 2030. The automaker will supply a pickup truck model to Mitsubishi Motors Corp. in the country. The two automakers are strategic business partners.

He suggested Nissan will continue making investments in China, saying it will be difficult for the company to survive in the world if it fails to establish a strong presence in the Asian country.

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This article is from The Yomiuri Shimbun. Neither Dow Jones Newswires, MarketWatch, Barron's nor The Wall Street Journal were involved in the creation of this content.

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June 14, 2026 22:22 ET (02:22 GMT)

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