Nissan to cut Japanese production of top-selling US model due to tariffs, source says

TOKYO — Nissan will cut Japanese production of its top-selling U.S. model, the Rogue SUV, over May-July, said a person familiar with the matter, becoming the latest global automaker to alter manufacturing plans in response to new U.S. import tariffs.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to slap a 25% levy on cars built overseas has upended the global automotive supply chain. Nissan, Japan’s third-largest carmaker, is more exposed than some rivals. The United States is its top market, accounting for more than a quarter of the vehicles it sold last year, with many of those made in Japan or Mexico.

Nissan plans to reduce output of the Rogue by 13,000 vehicles at its plant in Kyushu, southwest Japan, during the three-month period, said the person, declining to be identified because the information is not public. The planned cut is equal to more than a fifth of the 62,000 Rogues sold in the United States in the first three months of this year.

Workers at the Kyushu plant, Nissan’s largest, will work fewer hours from May through July, with production halted on some days, the person said. The plant will continue to operate on two shifts a day, the person added. The automaker will reassess the production situation at a later date depending on the outlook for tariffs, the person said.

Nissan said in a statement it was reviewing its production and supply chain operations to identify optimal solutions for efficiency and sustainability. It said it was committed to adapting to market changes while prioritising workforce and production capabilities.

“Our approach will be thoughtful and deliberate as we navigate both immediate and long-term effects,” it said.

The Rogue was Nissan’s best-selling model in the U.S. last year, at almost 246,000 vehicles, accounting for more than a quarter of the carmaker’s total U.S. vehicle sales. Nissan also makes Rogue models in Smyrna, Tennessee.