- Z production moves to a made-to-order model for 2027.
- Manual Nismos may already be spoken for nationwide.
- Tighter supply could bring dealer markups back again
The Nissan Z had a stellar 2025 on paper, delivering 5,487 cars, nearly double the rival Toyota Supra and up 74 percent over the previous year. Impressive momentum for a nameplate that, not long ago, struggled to find steady footing. At the same time, volume may not have been the brand’s primary objective, and it is now making a significant shift in strategy.
For the upcoming 2027MY, which has been revealed in Japan but not yet in the States, production is being scaled back. Cars will be built on a made-to-order basis, and manually-equipped NISMOs will be far fewer than many might expect. All of that makes us believe that markups are going to come back with a vengeance.
See: Nissan Gives The Z A Facelift And Finally Adds What Was Missing For 2027
The story first surfaced on NissanZClub, where a forum poster flagged the change. It was later picked up by The Drive and ultimately confirmed by Nissan itself. Separately, a source familiar with internal ordering told Carscoops that manually-equipped NISMOs will represent only a small fraction of total production.
Dealers are reportedly being warned to expect “scarce production ahead,” with the average store allocated just two to three regular Zs for the entire model year.
The JDM 2027 Nissan Z in Shinkai Green Metallic that will be offered in America too.
Nissan says the strategy is about aligning supply with demand and avoiding the costly incentive spiral that followed overproduction in 2024, which just happened to coincide, conveniently or otherwise, with the end of greedy dealer markups. That all makes sense, but it changes the equation for potential buyers.
More: Nissan Sold Nearly Twice As Many Zs As Supras
Essentially, Nissan appears intent on avoiding dealer lots filled with slower-selling color and trim combinations that linger too long, forcing incentives to clear them out. The preference now seems to be lower volume with stronger pricing discipline.
Manual Nismo In Short Supply
According to a Nissan insider we spoke to, fewer than 10 percent of total Z production will be manual-equipped NISMOs. More importantly, those cars are reportedly already spoken for at the national level. In some dealer systems, only Sport and Performance trims remain available to order. That’s right, there are no manual NISMO dealer allocations left for the 2027 model year.
That’s significant because the stick-shift version of the Nissan Z Nismo is exactly what enthusiasts have been waiting for. Previously automatic-only, the Nismo finally adding a third pedal should’ve been a celebratory moment. In fact, it was the one big thing we wished for when we last reviewed it. Instead, it may end up being a lottery.
JDM 2027 Nissan Z interior.
When you combine ultra-low dealer allocation with a sub-10-percent production slice for the most desirable variant, the math gets ugly fast. Limited supply plus confirmed demand equals pricing leverage. Even if MSRP doesn’t budge, transaction prices likely will and history proves it. At various times throughout the Z’s lifecycle, we’ve seen dealers slap gigantic markups on it, and no-doubt, some will do the same thing here.
In 2025, the Z gained a lot of momentum. In 2026, it looks like it’s trading that for scarcity. Notably, some dealers are committed to selling at MSRP no matter what, so if you’re in the market for a Z, we’d suggest skipping any dealer not willing to sell at sticker.
