Rival automakers Ford and Nissan have teamed up in the past on several occasions, with Nissan building the Mercury Villager for The Blue Oval back in the ’90s, not to mention joint efforts to develop fuel cell technology and EV batteries. Most recently, Nissan signed a deal with Ford EV battery partner SK On, and FoMoCo will reportedly provide it with space at the new BlueOval SK Battery Park plant, where Nissan will also build batteries for EVs. Now, a new report indicates that Nissan may build the next-generation Ford Escape for The Blue Oval, too.
According to Automotive News, Nissan is currently in talks with more than one automaker – including Ford and Stellantis – revolving around the possibility that it could supply them with an electrified vehicle based on the Rogue crossover. If that happens, the new model would be built alongside the Rogue in Smyrna, Tennessee, and would utilize Nissan’s e-Power hybrid system that drives the front wheels with an electric motor and battery, the latter of which gets power from a gas engine.
It is worth noting that this particular report doesn’t indicate that the Ford Escape would be the nameplate used for such a vehicle, but it would certainly make sense. The Rogue is a direct Escape competitor in today’s market, and it’s a top seller in that segment, too. Currently, the Ford Escape is facing discontinuation as the Louisville Assembly plant where it’s built is set to undergo a major retooling later this year, preparing it for production of a new mid-size all-electric pickup.
Ford hasn’t revealed any plans to shift Escape production elsewhere, so as of now, that model is set to be discontinued following an abbreviated 2026 model year run. However, given the popularity of small crossovers in today’s market – and the tremendous success the Rogue has been – farming out that process could make sense, if a deal does indeed go through.
It's still more popular than the EcoBoost.
The move stands to hurt Stellantis the most.
Nearly a year after it debuted for the U.S.
Giving the pickup a solid boost in output.
The automaker is working to minimize any potential disruptions.
It's still selling in notable quantities.
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Really? I thought Ford was canceling the Escape in favor of the Bronco Sport.
Not going to happen. I'm sure this would not go over well with the UAW and Unifor considering the excess capacity Stellantis and Ford have in the US and Canada.
A not-an-Escape Escape is better than no Escape. I like the Rogue. I'm a bit concerned about the e-Power system set to debut in the all-new '27 Rogue; reviewers in Europe claim it to be as complex as the troubled Variable Compression Turbo in the current Rogue.