Nissan, along with its partners Renault and Mitsubishi, is making a big push for electrification and plans to offer 30 new EVs by 2030. Part of this $23 billion push is the upcoming Nissan Ariya, an EV crossover coupe that joins the much loved Nissan Leaf in the Japanese automaker's EV lineup. We've completed a first look review on this car, we know how safe it is in case of an accident, and we even understand the ins and outs of its spacious cabin, so it's fair to say that we're ready and excited for the Ariya, but Nissan has some bad news.

Nissan released a statement on Monday saying that the launch date of the electric Ariya B6 SUV will have to be pushed back due to the ongoing international semiconductor shortage, and general pressure on global supply chains. The Ariya was pegged to go on sale in Japan in late March, but that date has now been pushed back all the way to May 12. This comes after the Ariya faced an even more significant push back from its original launch time of mid-2021. That date was scrapped due to COVID-related supply chain issues. The new deferred date will mean that Europe will only see sales of the new Ariya commence in summer, while US customers will only be able to buy a new Ariya in the fall.

The Ariya is a big step forward for Nissan in terms of design and EV technology. The Ariya features a cool new 3D pattern grille that is lit up by 20 LEDs and rolls on large 19- or 20-inch wheels. The interior features two large 12.3-inch displays for the driver cluster and infotainment system and a flat floor that bolsters cargo capacity. Under the skin, the Ariya features a FWD or AWD layout with your choice of 66-kilowatt-hour or 87-kWh battery packs. The AWD Ariya will make use of Nissan's ingenious e-4ORCE AWD system. Power levels will range from 215 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, all the way to 388 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. Pricing is set to start at around $40,000, undercutting the Tesla Model Y Long Range by a significant margin, but at least the Model Y is available to buy. Hopefully, someone finds a lasting solution to this crisis soon.