Nissan Set for Light Commercial Vehicle Growth in Europe
London (ots/PRNewswire)
- New Products and Expansion to Drive Growth
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced plans to grow its light commercial vehicle (LCV) business in Europe by 2010 by introducing new products and expanding into new markets.
"Nissan has a long tradition in the European LCV sector and plays a key role in important markets like Spain, Italy, France and the UK," said Brian Carolin, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Nissan Europe.
"We plan to further reinforce our position in those markets and improve our performance in the rest of Europe by introducing competitive new products and enhancing our dealer network," added Carolin.
The company will continue to offer light-duty trucks in cab-over-engine configuration and will reinforce its van line-up with innovative products that meet the needs of customers.
In order to strengthen its dealer network, Nissan will create a dedicated sales channel for light-duty trucks and continue to promote network partnerships, such as the one it has with Volvo Trucks, in markets where the Nissan truck network is not sufficiently developed.
Under a series of franchise agreements with Volvo Trucks' dealer networks signed in recent months, Volvo Truck dealers in Germany, UK, North and East Europe are now allowed to sell Interstar, Cabstar and Atleon.
As part of its dealer network activity, Nissan will also establish "Van Competency Centres" (VCC) in Nissan car dealerships to ensure that all customers - both individuals and companies - are serviced by professional van personnel during sales and aftersales activities.
The introduction of new products will be accompanied by a systematic approach to market expansion in Europe. Nissan plans to enter the booming Russian market, as well as some of the growing East European markets and Turkey where its LCV performance does not match the potential of the Nissan brand.
Nissan has enjoyed a remarkable performance in the LCV sector worldwide in the last two years ever since the sector was identified as one of four breakthroughs of the Nissan Value-Up business plan which began in fiscal year 2005.
In calendar year 2006, Nissan sold 489,579 LCVs globally, generating a consolidated operating profit margin of more than 8% a year ahead of plan.
In Europe alone in 2006, Nissan sold 48,778 LCVs. The Primastar medium van was Nissan's most popular LCV, selling 17,996 units, followed by the Cabstar light duty truck which sold 13,879 units.
Carolin also announced that Nissan will present the NV200, a highly innovative small van concept, at the Tokyo Motor Show in October this year.
Contact:
Giuseppe Cavallo
Global LCV Communications
gcavallo@nissan-europe.com
+34-628-900-255Contact:
Contact: Giuseppe Cavallo, Global LCV Communications,
gcavallo@nissan-europe.com, +34-628-900-255