Japanese automaker Nissan Motor announced that it plans to launch sales of its US-made Murano midsize SUV in its domestic market from early 2027. The company confirmed that it will use new vehicle certification rules introduced in February 2026 to import the model into the country.
The new certification rules were introduced by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, as part of the country’s trade deal with the US last year. They are designed to make it easier to import US-made vehicles by accepting US certification standards, with the aim of reducing the US trade deficit with Japan.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Other Japanese automakers, including Toyota and Honda, have already announced plans to ship US-made vehicles to Japan following the new regulations.
Nissan North America produces the Murano at its plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, alongside the Rogue and Pathfinder SUVs, the Leaf battery electric vehicle (BEV) and the Infiniti QX60.
Nissan’s CEO, Ivan Espinosa, said in a statement: “I’m excited to share with you that the Murano is coming back to Japan. The Murano has earned high praise from customers in the US market for its elegant design and exceptional comfort. It was named the Most Dependable Midsize SUV in the JD Power 2026 US Vehicle Dependability Study for the second year in a row. With the introduction of this model, Nissan aims to further strengthen its product lineup in Japan and meet the diverse needs of Japanese customers.”
