√Waiting for a new Nissan Qashqai, X-Trail or Pathfinder? Read this

The boss of Nissan Australia has refused to say when Qashqai, X-Trail and Pathfinder customers will take delivery of their new vehicles, as the brand falls outside the Top 10 sellers list for the second month in a row.

Frustrated buyers of the new Nissan Qashqai, X-Trail, and Pathfinder SUVs will need to be patient for a little longer while the company figures out who will get their cars first.

Nissan Australia sales have hit the brakes in the past two months – falling outside the Top 10 for the first time in memory – in the wake of severe stock shortages.

In June 2022, Nissan finished the month in 15th place – its lowest ranking since records were kept. Last month Nissan was 11th in the sales charts behind MG, Subaru, and Isuzu Ute, – and only narrowly ahead of China’s Great Wall Motors.

After finishing seventh in the new-car sales race last year, Nissan is now struggling to hang onto a Top 10 spot in the year-to-date scoreboard.

Despite teasing customers with three key new SUVs – the small Qashqai, mid-size X-Trail, and large Pathfinder – Nissan remains tight-lipped about when the next-generation cars will arrive.

All three models have different shipping channels. The Nissan Qashqai is made in the UK, the Nissan X-Trail comes from Japan, and the Nissan Pathfinder comes from the US.

When asked if all three models were already on their way to Australia, the local Nissan boss Adam Paterson told Drive: “We’re not going to satisfy all customer orders in the first month of sales. There is still a wait. I don’t know exactly how many are coming. The daily, weekly volatility continues.”

When asked to clarify if all three SUVs were on the water, Mr Paterson said: “No.”

When asked to outline which of the three SUVs would be first to turn up to Nissan Australia showrooms, Mr Paterson said: “I’m not allowed to say. It’s based on different information we get from shipping suppliers and this and that. I don’t know exactly what it is showing as at today.”

When asked what message Nissan Australia would like to provide consumers in the queue who are facing uncertain delivery times, Mr Paterson said: “Hopefully many customers have had the chance to (sample) the three new SUVs in our roadshow across the country. Hopefully once customers get the chance to go to their local dealer to see, touch, feel, sit in, experience the vehicles, they’ll believe the wait is worth it.”

Nissan dealers have told Drive they are as frustrated as their customers because the information they are given is constantly changing.

When asked why Nissan Australia is not more forthcoming with delivery estimates – or even which models may arrive first – Mr Paterson said: “We’re trying to work out the allocation strategy first, so that we can make sure we are able to communicate with customers who is getting what (vehicle) at what store.”

Last week, the sales and marketing boss of Toyota Australia, Sean Hanley, told a national dealer conference normal vehicle supply and reduced waiting times could happen late next year.

When the Nissan Australia boss was asked to forecast when waiting times might be reduced, Mr Paterson said: “Last year we hoped early next calendar year we would return to a free supply type of environment. And we’re not.

“It’s difficult to determine lockdowns in supplier countries and conflicts in other parts of the world, so the minute I quote a figure for you I’m going to be incorrect 10 minutes later.

“I wish we would be able to give firm supply figures to you and to customers but the situation is still volatile. And we’re not alone.”

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