Nissan to introduce U.S.-built Murano to Japanese market

By Moses Akaigwe

Nissan has announced that it will introduce the U.S.-built Murano to the Japanese market, with sales scheduled to begin in early 2027.

The Murano is manufactured at Nissan North America’s Smyrna plant in Tennessee. Nissan will utilize the new certification system for U.S.-made passenger vehicles established by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in February 2026 to bring the model to Japan.

Ivan Espinosa, Nissan’s president and CEO, stated: “I’m excited to share with you that Murano is coming back to Japan.The Murano has earned high praise from customers in the U.S. market for its elegant design and exceptional comfort.

“It was named the Most Dependable Midsize SUV in the JD Power 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) for the second year in a row. With the introduction of this model, Nissan aims to further strengthen its product lineup in Japan and meet the diverse needs of Japanese customers.”

Like Nissan, Toyota and Honda hope that the novelty of these U.S. models will appeal to a small but passionate niche market in Japan.

The new Murano is manufactured at the Nissan North America Smyrna plant in Tennessee. This will be the first time an American-made Nissan model is sold in Japan since the 1990s.

Redesigned for the 2025 model year, the Murano introduced a fresh look and a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and nine-speed automatic, in place of the older V6 and CVT. It rides well and has a comfortable, premium interior.

The Nissan brand  is represented in Nigeria by Stallion NMN Ltd (Nissan Motors Nigeria), a member of the Stallion Group, which serves as the exclusive importer, distributor, and manufacturer (with local assembly) of Nissan vehicles in the country, providing sales and after-sales support.

##