- Nissan is reportedly adjusting plans due to the war in Iran.
- 1,400 Patrols will reportedly become Armadas instead.
- A number of automakers have paused Middle East deliveries.
The United States and Iran have struck a fragile truce, which appears to be holding for the moment. However, it doesn’t magically fix high gas prices or a clogged Strait of Hormuz.
This continues to cause complications, but some automakers are finding creative solutions. Among them is Nissan, which is reportedly planning to send 1,400 SUVs that were originally destined for the Middle East to the United States.
More: Ferrari And Other Luxury Brands Stop Deliveries To The Middle East
Details are hazy, but Nikkei is reporting that Patrols meant for the war torn region will instead become Armadas. This makes a lot of sense as they’re essentially the same SUV with a different name and Armada sales jumped 17.5% in the first quarter.
The publication said Middle East exports of the Patrol have been halted by the war and Nissan is running out of storage space. As a result, the SUVs need to go and it sounds like they’re coming to America.
This raises some questions as the story implies the vehicles have already been built. If that’s the case, they would likely need modifications including new badging.
That being said, it would make more sense if the company was adjusting future production and shifting what would have been Patrols to Armadas. Regardless of the scenario, the 1,400 vehicles in question will reportedly be coming to America in April and May. If the situation in the Middle East remains dicey, more models could be shifted to America.
Multiple automakers have had to suspend or curtail deliveries in the Middle East due to the war in Iran. Bentley, Maserati, and Ferrari have all been impacted, and Nikkei reports Subaru has stopped exports while Mazda has halted production of models intended for the region. The publication also says Toyota is cutting production of Land Cruisers destined for the area.
