The Japanese automaker that produces the Ariya battery-electric compact crossover SUV is Nissan.
The Ariya is Nissan’s first dedicated zero-emissions SUV and extends the company’s electric-vehicle work beyond the Leaf hatchback. Its production version was unveiled in July 2020 after the Ariya Concept had previewed the design at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show.
Originally intended to reach customers in 2021, the Ariya’s launch was delayed until 2022, partly because of pandemic-related supply and chip shortages. Production began in January 2022, including at Nissan’s Tochigi plant in Japan.
A common mix-up is to treat the Ariya as a Toyota, Honda or Mazda model simply because all three Japanese companies sell electrified vehicles. The Ariya is specifically a Nissan, and it is offered with front-wheel drive or Nissan’s dual-motor e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive system.