LOOK: Nissan Ariya EV spotted on PH roads

Is Nissan PH already testing the Ariya EV?

Remember when Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI) previewed the all-electric Ariya crossover at the 2024 Manila International Auto Show? At the time, they only showed the stylish exterior of the EV to the public at the World Trade Center Manila. However, they did mention that the vehicle they showed is the powerful e-4ORCE AWD version that puts out nearly 400 PS.

Fast forward to the present day, and it looks like Nissan PH is already busy testing the Ariya EV. Recently, an eagle-eyed enthusiast was able to spot the electric crossover being driven on public roads. It's painted in a unique shade in what we believe is called Sunrise Copper Pearl paired with a black roof.

It also has gloss black fender flares, massive alloy wheels painted black, and eye-catching LED daytime running lights that complement the V-Motion grille. We have yet to see the rest of the vehicle but we were able to see that it has a local plate along with an LTO conduction sticker on the windshield.

Should this be based on the top-of-the-line variant, the Ariya recently spotted could come with a pair of electric motors that push out 394 PS and an impressive 600 Nm of pull. Paired with an 87 kWh battery pack, Nissan claims the Ariya e-4ORCE AWD can travel over 500 km on a single charge.

The battery can be recharged from 30% to 80% via DC fast charging in just 30 minutes. On the other hand, it also supports up to 22kW of AC charging.

With the Ariya EV already spotted on PH roads, we asked one of our contacts if Nissan is gearing up for its eventual launch. Unfortunately, they shared that the recently spotted Ariya EV is not under NPI. Instead, it's likely sold by a gray market importer that also sells other EV brands like Tesla.

When NPI will actually launch the Ariya in the country remains to be seen. But given they already previewed it at MIAS 2024, perhaps they're still making the necessary preparations to sell it to the market in the not-so-distant future.

Do you think Nissan PH will sell the Ariya EV soon? Let us know in the comments.