Another one of the many sedans that will end production soon, Nissan announced plans to discontinue its Nissan Maxima around the mid part of 2023. The decision followed at the heels of a dramatic drop in sales, and in the first half of 2022, Nissan had only sold 3,753 units of the Maxima. To put that into perspective, the Altima, in the same time frame, sold 78,610 units.
The End of an Era
For over 42 years, Nissan has sold this flagship 4-door sedan, which marks the end of an era after that production line goes silent. Nissan continued by saying that they want to invest in more electric vehicles. Belonging to an ambitious plan, Nissan hopes that over 40 percent of its vehicle sales will come from electric cars by 2030.
This shows us that while the Nissan Maxima may be stepping back, Nissan is far from finished with its plans. They only plan to continue more in the direction of electrification. Earlier in the year, the brand announced two all-new electric models.
Nissan Maxima: A Legacy Worth Remembering
The Nissan Maxima made its first debut in 1980. At first, it started under the Datsun brand, and you could buy it as either a sedan or a station wagon. In the second-generation models, the Maxima wore the Nissan badge, and it has remained that way ever since. Throughout the 1990s and the early 2000s, the Maxima achieved its peak in popularity. The Maxima has always been considered a sporty car.
Under the current-generation model that debuted in 2015, the Maxima offers 300 horsepower paired with a CVT transmission. Unfortunately, as buyers made the shift over to more and more SUVs and crossovers, sales have suffered at a catastrophic level that has forced the brand to shift gears. Along with that, their new direction in electric cars may be fueling this change of pace.
Conclusion
Just because Nissan chose to discontinue the Maxima, for now, doesn't mean that it won't come back. For example, we may see a new Maxima in the future with an electric cord on it. If you'd like to buy the Nissan Maxima before they discontinue it, please drive on down to our dealership and check it out. They will stop making them in the mid part of 2023, so you still have time before it goes out of production. Don't wait too long, however.