At the recent Shanghai Auto Show, Nissan pulled the wraps off a brand-new pickup truck—one that marks a significant shift in the brand’s approach to electrification. Called the Nissan Frontier Pro, this vehicle is not to be confused with the Frontier sold in North America. In fact, it has no connection to the U.S. version or the upcoming Navara co-developed with Mitsubishi. Built as a plug-in hybrid and developed in partnership with China’s Dongfeng, the Frontier Pro is a completely different truck, designed initially for the Chinese market but with plans for eventual global release.
Though it's unlikely the U.S. will see this exact model, Nissan’s CEO recently confirmed that a hybrid Frontier is being developed for the North American market. However, it's still unclear whether that vehicle will share any DNA with the Frontier Pro or be a completely separate project. Regardless, the debut of the Frontier Pro signals Nissan’s entry into the world of electrified trucks, and that’s a noteworthy development.
The Frontier Pro is the product of a joint venture between Nissan and Dongfeng, specifically through Zhengzhou Nissan (ZNA). It shares its underpinnings with the Dongfeng Z9, which was revealed earlier in 2025. However, Nissan has made key changes to give the Frontier Pro its own identity. Visually, the truck distinguishes itself with a bold and modern front end. Highlights include new headlight designs, an illuminated Nissan logo, and a rugged bumper setup. In a nostalgic twist, three horizontal LED strips above the emblem pay homage to the classic Nissan D21 Hardbody pickup from the 1980s, reminiscent of its signature hood vents.
From the side, the Frontier Pro resembles the Dongfeng Z9 but gets unique 18-inch wheels and enhanced side protection, reinforcing its off-road-ready appearance. At the rear, the truck features redesigned taillight graphics and additional horizontal LEDs on the tailgate for a more distinctive and modern touch. Nissan hasn’t published the vehicle’s exact dimensions yet, but based on the Dongfeng Z9’s 5,520 mm length, the Frontier Pro seems to land somewhere between midsize and full-size categories—competing with trucks like the BYD Shark in China.
Inside, the cabin mirrors the Z9’s layout, offering a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument cluster, all behind a stylish two-spoke steering wheel. The truck is surprisingly well-equipped for comfort, offering optional heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, as well as a power-retractable cover for the rear bed.
Performance-wise, the Frontier Pro is no slouch. It features a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a high-output electric motor, producing a combined output of more than 402 horsepower and 800 Nm of torque. The powertrain delivers performance through intelligent all-wheel drive and includes an electromechanical rear differential lock for added traction. Drivers can choose between four driving modes: Hybrid, Pure Electric, Performance, and Snow, tailoring the experience to different road conditions.
With an electric-only range of up to 135 km (according to China’s CLTC test cycle), the Frontier Pro also includes a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) system that can deliver up to 6 kW of power, making it useful for charging tools or household electronics while off the grid.
Production for the Nissan Frontier Pro is scheduled to begin in late 2025 in China, with plans to expand its availability to international markets, though specific countries have yet to be announced. Alongside this debut, Nissan also introduced the N7 electric sedan, as part of a broader rollout of nine new Nissan-badged new energy vehicles (NEVs) expected in China by summer 2027.