TOKYO -- Nissan is teasing a full-electric pickup truck as part of its next-generation product plan, in a possible riposte to off-road offerings being pitched by everyone from Ford to Tesla.
The Surf-Out concept is a funky, outdoorsy activity vehicle with what looks like an open cabin-back for easy access to the pickup bed. The tailgate is fully digitalized for lighting as well as messaging. Meanwhile, a sleek canopy can be pulled over the cargo space for privacy and protection.
Up front, the grille is encircled in wrap-around lighting and emblazoned with brand's name.
The Surf-Out is one of three new all-electric concepts shown by Nissan on Monday as the company announced investment of 2 trillion yen ($17.65 billion) over the next five years to ramp up an electrified vehicle push with 23 new entries worldwide by the end of the decade.
All three concepts envision using thinner, lighter, more power solid state batteries that Nissan promises to launch by the fiscal year ending March 31, 2029.
"Batteries will be the key to transition," CEO Makoto Uchida said while unveiling the concepts in an online briefing. "With batteries made smaller and thinner, we can offer flexible layouts, with more dynamic performance, expanding to larger segments, like pickup trucks."