Overview
- Nissan confirmed the Smyrna, Tennessee–built Murano will arrive in Japan in early 2027 using MLIT’s new system that accepts U.S. vehicle certification without additional local testing.
- The model will be sold in left-hand-drive configuration, which is unusual for the Japanese market.
- The decision is positioned to help utilize excess capacity at Nissan’s Smyrna plant, where the fourth-generation Murano is produced.
- It will be the first American-made Nissan sold in Japan since the 1990s, according to the company.
- Toyota and Honda have announced comparable U.S.-to-Japan imports for 2026, though analysts including Sam Fiorani and Stephanie Brinley expect limited volumes in a market that is roughly 95% locally produced.