Nissan delays launch of Ariya electric SUV due to chip shortage, COVID-19

FILE PHOTO: A Nissan Ariya electric vehicle (EV) is seen displayed at the Dongfeng Nissan booth during a media day for the Auto Shanghai show in Shanghai, China April 19, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song

TOKYO (Reuters) - The availability of Nissan Motor Co's Ariya, a new electric SUV, will be delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic and a global shortage of chips, an official of the car maker said on Friday.

Last year Nissan said it planned to begin sales of the Ariya in Japan from mid-2021. But the rollout of the limited model in the Asian nation has been pushed to "this winter", the firm's executive vice president, Asako Hoshino, told reporters.