Nissan upbeat about eco-cars
Nissan, like other auto manufacturers, is hoping that privileges for auto-makers taking part in Thailand's eco-car project will be improved and believes the requirement for production of 100,000 units within five years is "advantageous to the country's biggest carmaker", says president and CEO Carlos Ghosn.
Ghosn is in Thailand visiting the management of distributor Siam Nissan Automobiles, looking at the opportunities and problems the company is facing and re-evaluating Nissan's long-term plans in Thailand. He will also update the company's 500 staff on Siam Nissan's situation. He said the 100,000-unit production requirement in the eco-car project was possible, although it would represent a hurdle for smaller carmakers. "For us it is feasible, but it will depend on exports, so we are taking a little bit of time to evaluate the situation." He said Nissan was satisfied "to a certain extent" with the privileges offered by the Thai government to auto-makers joining the eco-car project. "Every country and region is trying to launch new projects with initiatives for the environment. Nissan is taking it seriously, and we are looking to finalise our decision," he said. "We consider it a good initiative, and we will give our own suggestions, although it is not final yet. The privileges are good, but auto-makers would be happy if they could be improved, one way or another. We would be, too." Thailand is Nissan's production base for the Navara pickup, with exports to 130 countries around the world to commence in August. Ghosn said Thailand needed to maintain its competitiveness as an auto exporter in the long term, with decisive factors being the foreign-exchange rate and the cost of labour. In terms of pickup sales, Nissan is performing marginally in Thailand, with a market share of 10-15 per cent, but in the passenger-car category, it needs to improve significantly. "I think our performance in Thailand is mediocre. Although we are good in pickup sales - the Navara is doing well and grabbing a market share - we can do better than 10-15 per cent," Ghosn said. "But in the passenger-car segment, we are disappointed that our market share is only 3-4 per cent, which is one of the lowest for Nissan in the world. We want higher participation." Ghosn said although buyers of the Teana mid-sized sedan and the Tiida compact were happy with their cars, they were still considered niche products,
Kingsley Wijayasinha The Nation
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