Nissan Ariya Production Problems Are Not Over Yet

Nissan's all-new and all-electric Ariya crossover is reportedly experiencing production problems caused by a lack of semiconductor chips, paint issues, and other components. According to Reuters, Ariya production is running around a third below planned output, the key reason why we're not seeing more examples on the road.

We learned in late January that Ariya sales were expected to be low this year, supposedly due to high battery material costs. Only 201 examples were sold in the US last year. Assuming this latest report is accurate, then it appears Nissan is having even greater production and supply issues than we first thought. This is a big deal and a significant problem for the Japanese automaker because it's losing momentum on a major new vehicle.

Revealed in 2020, the Ariya is the first of 19 new EVs Nissan aims to launch by 2030. Without it being on dealership lots in the US and other vital markets such as Europe, Nissan is simply losing sales to rivals like Tesla, Ford, and Hyundai.

The Ariya production line in Tochigi, Japan is highly automated, often referred to as an "intelligent factory" production system. But the problem has been implementing the system so that it actually works as it should. It sounds quite complex due to its ability to manufacture vehicles with different types of powertrain technologies, including pure battery electrics like the Ariya, as well as hybrids and combustion-engined vehicles. They are all produced on the same assembly line. One individual familiar with the matter, who understandably wishes to remain anonymous, stated that the advanced paint line has been a continuous problem.