Thumbs’ down from Nissan NZ to make’s latest electric.

ANY chance of Nissan NZ restocking its electric car portfolio now seems more likely to rest on a new source: China.

That regional news vibe is supported by the Auckland office firmly rejecting the make’s latest electric, the new Juke.

The decision, share today mirrors that of the Australian operation to which Nissan here reports.

In speaking to potential for Juke selling here, a Nissan NZ spokesman said: “Nissan is continuing to evaluate future electrified products and technologies that could suit the New Zealand market.

“The recently unveiled Juke EV is not currently under consideration.”

The third-generation Juke compact crossover SUV unveiled in Japan this week at an exposition showing off several other impending cars, including the next-generation X-Trail (below), which will continue in e-Power form and is set to come here next year.

As reported on April 15, Juke is only being built in the United Kingdom, at the Sunderland plant that has provisioned previous generations Juke to New Zealand.

It has also been the supply point for NZ-new Leaf, a car that in latest form shares the same platform as Juke and is also on hold for New Zealand.

With Ariya having recently been dropped, Nissan NZ is without an electric car to sell.

This right at a time when the Middle East ructions have absolutely swung consumer interest back toward battery product that has been all but ostracised for the past two years.

Juke would not have been an immediate panacea as it is not launching to its only confirmed markets, the UK and Europe until between at least March 2027.

Media in Australia - where Ariya still sells - say Nissan is still looking to expand its local EV lineup and could find answers from China.

The carexpert.co.au website reports that the brand is known to be looking at models from the Chinese Dongfeng Nissan joint venture, including a SUV called the NX8 and a large sedan called the N7.

It says those products are currently under consideration for Australia, and further news on their potential for is expected soon.