Because of the growing popularity of CUVs, large sedans are losing their allure, and most automakers are in the process of killing off nameplates that were once quite popular. Maxima is the most recent addition to this list.
Nissan has announced that production of the Maxima will end in mid-2023, after more than four decades and eight generations. Nissan only sold 3,753 full-sized sedans in the first half of 2022, resulting in a drop in sales. In comparison, 78,610 Altima mid-sized sedans were sold during the same time period.
In response to Maxima’s downfall, a Nissan spokesperson stated:
“Maxima is one of Nissan’s most storied nameplates in North America.” On Wednesday, August 3, we informed our employees, suppliers, and dealers that production of the current-generation Maxima would end in the middle of 2023.”
However according to Nissan’s official statement, the company is “prioritizing electric vehicles” and advises to “stay tuned for future Nissan Maxima news.” This probably means that the upcoming Nissan EV sedan, slated to arrive in 2025 might wear the Maxima name.
In 2021, Nissan announced plans to launch 23 electrified models (EVs, HEVs, and PHEVs) across its Nissan and Infiniti brands by 2030, with 15 of them being all-electric vehicles. Nissan wants EVs to account for 40% of sales by the end of this decade.
Nissan Maxima’s Debut
The Nissan Maxima first appeared in 1980 under the Datsun brand. It was billed as a full-sized flagship, with a 6-cylinder engine and rear-wheel drive, and was initially available as either a sedan or a station wagon.
The switch to front-wheel drive came with the second-generation Nissan badged model, and it remained that way for the rest of its life.
The Maxima has always been considered a sporty sedan, and the fourth and fifth-generation models, which offered understated styling with V6 power and a manual transmission, arguably reached its enthusiast peak in the 1990s and early 2000s.
The current-generation Maxima debuted in 2015, with a 300-hp engine paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Despite strong straight-line performance, Maxima sales have been steadily declining as customers shift to new SUVs and crossovers.
To read our blog on “Nissan wants to halt the Leaf EV due to low sales,” click here
