Nissan dealerships will be forced to fit new suspension to every 2026 Navara before it leaves the lot, only to then destroy the original shocks – even though they’ve barely been used. The move, tied to a unique Australian-market suspension tune developed by Premcar, is raising eyebrows over waste and sustainability despite Nissan’s claims to the contrary.
Premcar’s Suspension Tune and Dealership Mandate
The 2026 Navara will likely cost more than the Mitsubishi Triton it’s based on, but Nissan is touting improved handling thanks to Premcar’s local engineering. The catch? Each Navara must have its factory-installed shocks swapped for Premcar-tuned units before customer delivery.
Nissan has confirmed dealerships will be required to perform this swap on every vehicle, creating what the company calls an “additional revenue stream.” The original shocks, however, will not be reused. Instead, they will be drained of oil and sent for metal recycling.
The Waste Factor: Why Destroy Near-New Parts?
According to Nissan, the shocks that are removed have “already got some kilometers on them,” making them unsuitable for resale or reuse. The company insists this process aligns with their sustainability policies, which emphasize reusing components whenever possible alongside responsible recycling.
However, the practice appears wasteful given that the shocks are functionally new. Draining the oil and recycling the metal is standard practice, but the decision to destroy functional parts rather than explore alternative uses is unusual.
Nissan justifies the policy by stating the shocks are fitted as part of a “comprehensive pre-delivery process,” similar to installing accessories.
Suspension Variants and Premcar’s Role
Premcar has engineered three distinct suspension setups for the Navara’s four variants. The SL and ST models receive a heavy-duty four-leaf spring tune, while the ST-X and Pro-4X versions get specialized settings for 18-inch road tires and 17-inch all-terrain tires, respectively.
The new South Australian-made shocks are shipped directly to dealerships when an order is placed, ensuring they’re installed before the customer takes delivery.
This practice ensures a standardized process and eliminates logistical challenges related to warehousing or redistribution of removed shocks.
Nissan maintains that the policy is efficient, aligning with their sustainability goals through proper fluid disposal and metal recycling.
Ultimately, while Nissan emphasizes recycling, the destruction of perfectly functional shocks remains a questionable practice in an industry increasingly focused on reducing waste.
