MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI) said in a press statement that it continues on its growth momentum as it closes the first half of 2017 with a 41% sales growth versus the same period last year.
This performance was driven by the strong sales of its core models, aggressive dealer network expansion, and the introduction of innovative After Sales programs, the car company said.
In its local product lineup, The NV350 Urvan continues to be Nissan’s best-selling model, as the people carrier accounted for 31% of the brand’s total sales in the first half of the year. Further driving the performance of the model is the Nissan Urvan Premium, which was introduced to the market last April 2017. The new model, with its sleeker design, larger leg and headroom, and enhanced seating capacity, contributed to 7% of the van’s total performance for the period.
Another driver of the brand’s growth is the tough, smart Nissan Navara, the car company added. Nissan’s iconic pick-up also contributed 31% to the first half performance. Its versatile character, Nissan said, allowed it to be used for everyday city driving and hauling heavy materials, and has made it one of the “most desirable Nissan vehicles in the market”. The demand for the Nissan Navara has grown significantly at 59% versus the same period last year.
Other vehicles that have contributed to Nissan’s record performance are the spacious Nissan Almera, and the built to stand out Nissan Juke, accounting for 24% and 12% of NPI sales, respectively, the statement said.
“We have started out this year strong, growing our business by almost double versus the same period last year. And we are not stopping there,” said Ramesh Narasimhan, NPI president and managing director. “In July, we posted a new record for the brand, hitting 2,202 units sold. We hope to continue on this momentum, to truly strengthen our position in the Philippine automotive scene. We have a lot of plans in store for our customers, this second half of 2017, so I hope that the market is ready for an exciting year.”
Dealer expansion, enhanced after-sales service
Within the first half of 2017, Nissan has opened 5 brand new dealerships in key regions in the country. These include Nissan Marilao, Nissan Iloilo, Nissan Cebu South, Nissan Cebu Central, and Nissan Baliwag. With the addition of these dealers, Nissan has established its presence across 32 locations nationwide.
NPI also continues to provide innovative After Sales services in 2017 with the Nissan Express Service, where customers can have their vehicles undergo a comprehensive PMS within 30 minutes. Bringing further convenience to Nissan customers is another industry first – the Nissan Parts Online. Through this, customers can order branded merchandise and genuine parts from the comfort of their homes, and receive it in 24 hours within Metro Manila.