Nissan cuts sales goal for the year
A 2,000cc version of the Teana mid-sized saloon was launched yesterday. The new model targets buyers opting for improved fuel economy and affordability.
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Siam Nissan Automobile (SNA) Co Ltd, the distributor of Nissan vehicles in Thailand, has cut its sales target for 2006 from 50,000 to between 46,000 and 48,000 units due to a combination of negative factors.
SNA president Kosaku Hosokawa made the statement at a press conference introducing the "Shift_" concept, which is focused on transforming the company into a modern organisation with a complete revamp in terms of administration, image, product quality, design, employee attitude and customer communications. The new concept has been implemented in Nissan operations worldwide."The economy is worsening with lower growth while fuel prices and interest rates are going up," he said. "I don't know where fuel prices and interest rates will be in the future, but if they start to stabilise, then the growth will return." Nissan has reduced its sales target despite plans to introduce several new models later this year, including the Tiida compact car and a new one-tonne common-rail pickup. Yesterday the company also introduced a 2,000cc version of the Teana mid-sized saloon to cater to buyers opting for improved fuel economy and affordability. Hosokawa said starting this year Thailand would also serve as a production and export base for Nissan. He said production capacity at its plant on Bang Na-Trat Road would be raised to 200,000 units by the end of 2008 to support the 10-model product portfolio planned for that year. Three new models have already been launched in Thailand - the Teana, X-Trail compact SUV, and the Murano luxury SUV. By 2008, Nissan will export 70,000 vehicles a year from Thailand, Hosokawa said. "Thailand will be utilised as a base for Asean and beyond for exporting engines and other parts, starting from this year," he said. Meanwhile, Nissan has launched a financing arm - Nissan Leasing (Thailand) Co Ltd. Established with registered capital of Bt300 million, Nissan Leasing is a subsidiary of Nissan Motor Japan. Kamoldej Bunnag, managing director of the company, said Nissan Leasing would be the first company in Thailand to use an electronic application process. "Nissan Leasing will create a software system to activate the communication channels with dealers and permit them to directly submit and then check the credit application status online," he said. "Within four hours of the completion of documents, Nissan Leasing will automatically fax or e-mail the dealer with a printout of a complete financing contract for the applying customer. This will help close the sale and provide an opportunity for customers to get their cars delivered earlier," he said. Kamoldej said Nissan Leasing planned to help finance about 10 per cent of all of Nissan's sales in Thailand this year. He added that after a nationwide expansion, the company's sales would increase 24 per cent in 2007 from 2006 and 35 per cent in 2008. Kingsley Wijayasinha The Nation
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