Nissan to Sell US-Built Murano in Japan Starting 2027

The automaker will leverage new certification system to import the popular SUV model.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 3:23pm

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Nissan has announced plans to begin selling the United States-built Murano in Japan starting in early 2027. This move comes after Japan established a new certification system in 2026 that allows cars certified by US regulators to be imported and sold without additional local safety tests, as part of tariff negotiations between the two countries.

Why it matters

The decision to bring the Murano to Japan reflects Nissan's strategy to leverage its US manufacturing capacity and meet evolving consumer demands in its home market. It also highlights the growing integration of the US and Japanese automotive markets through regulatory harmonization.

The details

The fourth-generation Murano is currently built at Nissan's Smyrna, Tennessee plant alongside the fifth-generation Pathfinder. The move to sell the Murano in Japan is aimed at utilizing excess capacity at the underutilized US facility. The Murano is not currently sold in Japan.

  • Nissan announced the plan in March 2026.
  • The Murano will begin sales in Japan in early 2027.

The players

Nissan

A major Japanese automaker that is bringing its US-built Murano SUV to the Japanese market.

Ivan Espinosa

The president and CEO of Nissan, who expressed excitement about introducing the Murano to Japanese customers.

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What they’re saying

“I'm excited to share with you that Murano is coming back to Japan. The Murano has earned high praise from customers in the US market for its elegant design and exceptional comfort. It was named the most dependable midsize suv in the JD Power 2026 US 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.”

— Ivan Espinosa, President and CEO of Nissan

What’s next

Nissan will need to ensure the Murano meets all applicable safety and regulatory requirements in Japan before the model can be sold there starting in 2027.

The takeaway

Nissan's decision to sell the US-built Murano in Japan highlights the growing integration of the two countries' automotive markets, enabled by new regulatory harmonization. This move allows Nissan to better utilize its US manufacturing capacity while also expanding its product offerings to meet evolving consumer demands in its home market.