Nissan will end production, sales of the Navara in Europe

Nissan will not replace its Navara pickup in Europe when the company shutters the Barcelona factory where the model is built later this year, the company said, citing the shrinking market for pickups.

"Production of the current-generation Nissan Navara for European markets will end when our Barcelona plant closes in December 2021, and sales will end in the course of 2022," the company said in an emailed statement. "This reflects the declining pickup segment in Europe and the switch many consumers are taking from pickups to our range of modern and efficient vans."

Nissan had the option of importing the Navara for Europe from its Thailand plant, which supplies the model to export markets including Australia. Nissan's European operation had already decided not to import a facelifted version of the Thai-built model unveiled last year.

The decision means the end for a model that helped to transform the European pickup market. The second-generation Navara that launched in 2005 was key to moving pickups from a niche segment of workhorse vehicles to one with broader appeal dominated by off-road, five-seat double-cab models that could be used as a family car on weekends.

Previously, pickups sold in Europe had been mostly cramped, noisy and uncomfortable but Nissan increased passenger space and added upscale features including satellite navigation, climate control and leather seats on top-end models. The model was built on the same chassis as the Pathfinder SUV, which was also sold in Europe.

The second-generation Navara was a success and Nissan regularly challenged the top-selling Mitsubishi L200 in Europe on sales.

The current-generation Navara launched in 2014 updated the same 'lifestyle' formula but this time Nissan teamed up with alliance partner Renault and Mercedes-Benz to help boost the scale of its European manufacturing operations.

Nissan produced the Renault Alaskan and Mercedes X-Class based on the Navara from 2017 at the Barcelona plant, but hopes that the models could boost the pickup market in Europe were dashed by sluggish sales for both.

The predicted rise in demand for pickups failed to materialize, leaving Toyota and Ford as the only manufacturers selling models in significant numbers.

Ford will also build a version of its new Ranger pickup for Volkswagen, allowing VW to reintroduce the Amarok pickup to the European market next year.