Following guidelines set by the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) and General Community Quarantine (GCQ), Nissan dealers across the Philippines have resumed sales and service operations. Ensuring the health and safety of employees and customers, Nissan dealerships will practice stringent health and safety protocols including regular disinfection as well as the observation of social distancing within the premises.
The following dealerships have been opened to serve Nissan customers:
With Nissan dealerships across the Philippines gearing up to re-open by May 16 (those in GCQ areas have resumed operations as early as May 6), the carmaker has announced new health and safety guidelines to control the spread of COVID-19. Prior to opening, Nissan dealerships will be conducting a wall-to-wall disinfection of facilities, followed by thrice-daily sanitation of the facility. Dealer personnel will be provided with personal protective equipment (PPEs) in the workplace, such as face shields, face masks, and disposable plastic gloves.
Customers will likewise be requested also wear PPEs when entering dealership premises, and will be provided with complimentary face masks and plastic gloves if they have none. Measures such as contactless temperature checks, daily health monitoring of symptoms for employees, and limiting the number of people inside the dealerships will also be implemented.
Disinfection, sanitation, and physical distancing guidelines will also be implemented in sales and service operations. This covers activities such as test drives, product demonstrations, vehicle maintenance and delivery, road side assistance, as well as marketing activities.
For example, test drives will be limited to two people including the driver. Customer appointments will be prioritized over walk-ins. Online and telecommuting solutions for customer interactions are greatly recommended. Existing vehicle disinfection and sanitation procedures will become more strict and stringent.
The Nissan Customer Assistance Center will also be advising customers on the health and safety guidelines when they call in for service appointments or showroom visits.
“Even though we are entering a ‘new normal’ as an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, our commitment to provide excellent customer service and experience remains the same. Our priority right now is to keep our customers and employees safe and healthy in our dealerships through these guidelines,” said Atsushi Najima, president and managing director of Nissan in the Philippines.
Nissan has confirmed that its e-Power Technology will now be produced in Thailand making it the first market after Japan to manufacture the technology. Plans are also underway to use Thailand as Nissan’s export base for vehicles fitted with e-Power. e-Power is Nissan’s term for the powerplant in its extended range electric vehicle. As an extended range electric vehicle or range-extended electric vehicle, it receives all the benefits of a fully-electric driving experience such as instant torque and acceleration, but without the need to plug-in. A small gasoline engine acts as a power generator, charging the onboard traction battery. When extra acceleration is required, the electric motor receives power from both the battery and the engine to enhance its performance. The technology provides superior fuel efficiency and lower emissions, compared to a traditional internal combustion engine.
“Nissan's commitment is to change the way we all drive and live. As leaders in electrification we decided to pledge to continue our timeline to bring this ground-breaking technology, e-Power, to Thailand. This is because Nissan commits to Thailand and our employees, as the regional leader in driving the company's vision for the electrification of mobility. And as a key global production and export hub for Nissan,” said Ramesh Narasimhan, president of Nissan in Thailand.
This announcement underlines Nissan’s long-term investment in Thailand. The Japanese carmaker invested 10.96 billion baht (P 17.10 billion~) to produce e-Power at the company’s facilities in Samut Prakan.
“Thailand has been strategically selected to introduce Nissan’s technology. Following the popularity of e-Power technology in Japan, we are excited to showcase our manufacturing expertise here,” concluded Ramesh Narasimhan.
The first Thailand produced e-Power vehicle is expected to be the refreshed Kicks, a sub-compact SUV that’s destined to replace the Juke in several markets likely including the Philippines.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. joins as one of the founders of “IP open access declaration against COVID-19”, a collective effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In an unprecedented move, this declaration brings together businesses, government, and academia to promote the fastest possible development and manufacturing of therapeutic drugs, vaccines, medical devices and infection control products.
In accordance with this declaration, Nissan will not seek compensation, nor assert any patent, utility model, design, or copyright against any activities whose purpose is to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including diagnosis, prevention, containment, and treatment until the date the World Health Organization (WHO) declares that the COVID-19 outbreak no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.
Other notable Japanese companies listed as founding members of the initiative include Toyota, Honda, and Canon.
Nissan will continue efforts to support measures against the spread of COVID-19, leveraging expertise gained through vehicle engineering and production, using existing assets, and cooperating with governments and related parties in each country.
Nissan is expected to announce its “operational performance plan” by the end of the month, which will see them shift their strategic direction to markets which include the Philippines.
In a Reuters report, Nissan will pull back from Europe, and instead focus on selected markets such as the U.S., Japan, China, Thailand, Australia, and the Philippines. The Philippines, together with Australia and Thailand represents 90 percent of Nissan’s sales in the Asia region (excluding Japan, China, and India) which explains its plans to further expands sales here.
The plan which will be led by Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta rather than CEO Makoto Uchida focuses on freeing up resources in other markets and then pumping them back to what the carmaker calls its core markets.
Markets such as Europe will be concentrated on the all-new Juke and Qashqai, Patrol in the Middle East, and a more targeted line-up in other countries such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa, Russia, Brazil, and Mexico.
The new plan doesn’t mean a total retreat from markets where Nissan currently is, but it will entail more assembly plant closures—more than the 14 already announced last July.
Nissan announced the extension of its temporary adjustment to production in Thailand in response to the continuing COVID-19 outbreak and decreased demand in the automotive market. The suspension of production at Plant 2 in Samut Prakan will be extended from 4th May 2020 until 31st May 2020, while production at Plant 1 in Samut Prakan will continue to be adjusted to meet current demand levels. Adjustments will also be made at associated operations, including engine assembly and stamping.
Nissan continues to follow the advice and guidance of the Thai government and Ministry of Public Health to safeguard the well-being of employees, customers and the community.
“Our goal is to resume normal business operations as soon as possible, but ensuring the safety and well-being of all our employees, their families and Thai society is our priority right now given the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ramesh Narasimhan, the president of Nissan in Thailand.
Nissan will begin making protective face shields for health care workers in Japan who are on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19. The current plan calls for making 2,500 shields a month. Production will start this month at the Nissan Technical Center, the Nissan Research Center, and the company’s Yokohama Plant.
In addition, in response to a request from the Japanese government, Nissan is studying ways to support companies that manufacture ventilators and artificial heart-lung machines. Nissan plans to help these producers by proposing improvements to manufacturing procedures, providing working space or manpower to help companies step up production, and supplying parts that are in shortage.
Nissan has already started similar initiatives in other regions. In the U.S., the company is making protective face shields for health care workers in Michigan, Mississippi and Tennessee.
In the U.K., a team of volunteers from the Nissan Sunderland Plant have been supporting the delivery of protective face shields. More than 77,000 shields will leave the plant by the end of this week, and from next week, up to 100,000 shields will be distributed weekly. Nissan provided additional funds for an injection molding tool that greatly increases the number of shields produced.
In Spain, Nissan is beginning production of medical respirators in collaboration with Hospital de Sant Pau, the engineering company QEV Technologies and the Eurecat technology center. Manufacturing of the respirators will begin this week at Nissan’s Powertrain Plant in Barcelona.
The Nissan group will continue efforts to support measures against the spread of COVID-19, leveraging expertise gained through vehicle engineering and production, using existing assets, and cooperating with governments and related parties in each country.
Ken Lee took the helm of Nissan’s LCV (Light Commercial Vehicle) design team six months ago, and now he shares his vision of where he’ll be taking the brand moving forward. A Nissan veteran of nearly 17 years, Ken was born in the U.S., but spent time living in Singapore and Hong Kong. Working for Ford for three years, he saw how innovative Nissan design was when the American carmaker got their hands on the Nissan Murano and Infiniti FX. A month later, he joined Nissan.
Now that Ken’s in charge of LCV design—focusing on body-on-frame SUVs and pickup trucks, he feels that at the core, the “Nissan DNA” plays a very central role. He equates this to being technologically advanced, with careful attention to detail. However, when talking about Nissan’s LCV DNA—it’s all about “go anywhere,” and being “unbreakable.” His challenge therefore is to mix them in a recipe that honors the brand’s heritage while making it still segment-appropriate.
One perfect example is how Ken’s eyes were changed when designing the 2020 Patrol. He says, “I’ve discovered how strong the following is, how loyal and passionate our customers are. If we take the Patrol, our research trips to the Middle East show us how high the customer’s perception is—it may even be higher than how we at Nissan perceive it internally. That is very encouraging and motivating.”
“It’s very important to be in touch with our regions, and LCVs touch on very interesting markets. Coming from the passenger car world to LCVs, there are markets I’m familiar with and also new ones. Our design team is already quite in tune with the markets, because we visit and have satellite studios. We’re in deep communication with the product planning community, which also has satellites in all key markets. That’s the fun, when we get to take inspirational trips that touch the market and customers.”
Nissan’s global design team isn’t so big, but they’re highly efficient, working with a strong global collaboration between the carmaker’s other design studios in the U.S., Europe, China, Latin America, Thailand, and Japan. Whichever design is chosen though, the regional studios still talk to each other, and exchange information, ultimately resulting in a vehicle that the customer is expecting.
“As senior design director, my role is to inspire the design team—and, as the title says, to set direction. The most important part is finding the right direction for design, especially in the very beginning, and that the product finishes well. I would compare the process to an airliner taking off and landing. Takeoff and landing are extremely important, but the middle part is when the team is expected to work quite autonomously to find the design. For my own job, it’s a matter of understanding global markets, design trends, customer expectations, and just simply the sense of aesthetics, and bring everything together to guide the project in the right direction,” concludes Ken.
Nissan Philippines has finally released a statement regarding vehicles with expiring warranties during this period of Enhanced Community Quarantine. Like other Japanese and American carmakers, Nissan has taken the right steps and announced that they are now offering a 30-day warranty extension (subject to warranty validation) for all warranties expiring this March, while also giving a 30-day grace period for all missed Periodic Maintenance Service or PMS due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Moreover, vehicles financed using the in-house Nissan Finance are entitled to a 30-day extension in their monthly amortization payment.
For more information, Nissan Philippines is pointing owners to its customer assistance hotline which is open: +63 2 8403 6593.
‘Car designer’ is one of the world’s most googled jobs. But ever wondered how they actually design cars of the future? In celebration of International Women’s Day, Wasaporn Sritulyachot, Color and Trim Designer at Nissan Regional Design Center in Bangkok, Thailand talks about her inspirations and aspirations, dreams and dilemmas. “A designer’s view isn’t the same as others. We don’t just see, we are constantly searching, searching for something more—it could be a reflection on a building or someone’s earrings—inspiration is everywhere, you have to be observant,” smiles Wasaporn or ‘Poy’.
On first impressions, when you see this Bangkok-native, with her fashionable bob hairstyle, love of bright clothes and thoughtful way of speaking—you know for sure that she’s an artist or fashion designer.
What is a ‘Color and Trim’ car designer? I work on the design elements of the interior and exterior of range of Nissan cars for the Asia and Oceania region. I take care of color trends and car color planning.
You say that cars are a part of your destiny. What’s the story behind that?
The day I was born, instead of a regular gift on the birth of a baby, my grandparents gave my parents a classic car to celebrate! I know this isn’t unusual, but it means I have literally grown up with a classic car. My birth will always be linked to a car. It’s like my destiny. My parents still have the car.
The other funny thing is, when I was a child my parents decided to re-paint this car from beige to a bright copper color. It was my first experience of seeing a car change completely with just color, and it always stayed with me.
Is red, just red?
No, I don’t think you can say a color is just a color. For example, a red could have a highlight of orange, yellow or purple which affects people’s feelings when they see it. One red might be sporty, one is modern, darker red gives a luxury feeling. It’s all psychology.
As a color designer, we have to know that color also reacts differently inside a showroom versus daylight and a sunny or overcast day. The shape of a car also looks different depending on where the light is, so car color is much more than just picking a simple palette. And it isn’t about the colors I like – it needs to express the car’s concept and the owners’ desire.
What’s the part of your job that is most interesting?
To design a car, we need to constantly look at now and future. The designs we do now are usually in the market in three to five years and need to be trendy through the life cycle of a car. So in a way you need to see the future now. And it’s much more detailed than people expect.
The magic is in the details. For example, the seat—it needs to be comfortable, look good, but be durable and be an impressive design that can be implemented easily. The most important thing is when a customer gets in the car, they must feel like it’s their space.
Tell us the craziest thing or place you get inspiration from?
I believe that the weirdest places can give you the coolest inspirations. One of my favorites is an old second-hand toy store here in Bangkok, it has all kinds of old toys, colors and ideas. It stimulates me every time.
Recently I was in an almost empty carpark. The sunset light made a random car become a crazy blue/orange and pink blend. People must have thought I was crazy taking pictures in an abandoned carpark. But it’s these small things that make you see differently, my every day inspirations.
Do you think there will ever be cars with no color? There are so many possibilities. I think there would be cars that could change body color automatically, with LED or textures or refection technology or digital color. There will be a lot of innovation in this area.
What is your ultimate car, and why?
My best ‘car-love’ moment happened when I was 19. My boyfriend liked car racing and I went with him to one of the races. A Skyline C110 drove past me—I remember it vividly. I thought it was an older car but it looked so cool. The shape, the lines, It was truly a classic. Today, it’s the exact car I keep in my mind when I’m at work.
What kind of hobbies does a car designer have?
I love travelling, but not the regular kind. Almost every weekend I get in my car and I google a destination and go—no plan. Just to be there and really just see. I have had the experience of not being able to find a hotel, and having to sleep in the car. But I feel alive.
Also photography is my beloved hobby. One of my early memories is my dad, who is a photographer, teaching me how to take pictures with a polaroid camera. And it’s special because today it’s my way to capture inspiration.
How do you really feel about your job?
I honestly feel I’m the luckiest person in the world because I really love what I do.
Nissan is taking its first concrete steps to becoming a mobility company with their first-ever subscription service called Nissan Switch. The program, which has just been launched in Houston, Texas, U.S.A. offers people the ability to swap Nissan vehicles (yes, including the GT-R) for a fixed monthly fee with no long-term contractual commitment. Think Netflix, but with Nissan cars.
The service includes the vehicle (unlimited switches, as often as a new vehicle each day), delivery, cleaning, insurance, roadside assistance, and regular maintenance. Of course, it’s not cheap. Membership costs USD 495 (~ P 25,000), while the monthly fee depends on the membership tier. The basic one goes for USD 699 (~ 35,500) per month, while the Premium (which includes the 370Z and GT-R) goes up to USD 899 (~ 46,000).
Aside from seeing whether or not there’s a genuine market for a subscription-based ownership for cars, Nissan says this program would-be customers to try out features such as ProPILOT Assist without any long-term commitment.
Nissan Philippines has donated three Navara pickup trucks units to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to assist the humanitarian organization’s disaster and crisis response operations. With a total value of P 4.1 million, the Nissan Navara model was especially selected for this donation for crisis response because of the vehicle’s off-road capabilities, reliable load capacity, and powerful engine performance. The three pick-up trucks will be part of PRC’s ongoing operations to deliver services and relief goods to communities affected by calamities and disasters.
Employees of the automotive brand’s national sales office also contributed monetary donations for the PRC’s sustained Taal Volcano eruption relief operations, as part of this contribution.
“Helping our communities through this donation is one way we deliver Nissan’s vision of enriching people’s lives. Particularly by ensuring that the PRC can deliver aid and disaster support confidently with our robust and trustworthy Nissan Navara. We hope that our contribution enhances PRC’s capacity in reaching out to more communities,” said Atsushi Najima, president and managing director of Nissan in the Philippines.
The decision of Honda Cars Philippines (HCPI) to stop local assembly may not be the last. Sta. Rosa City mayor Arlene Arcillas revealed that Nissan is following suit as well. In a radio interview with DZMM program Dos-Por-Dos, Arcillas says that the city council has already been made aware of Nissan Philippines’s plan to stop the manufacture of the Almera sub-compact sedan locally.
Unlike Honda though, Nissan plans to maintain a presence in Sta. Rosa, but only in an assembly capacity. Arcillas says that the third best-selling car brand in the country will assemble vehicles using CKD kits imported from outside the Philippines. This will result in Nissan having to downsize its workforce says Arcillas, but the effect would not be as drastic compared to Honda’s decision to shutter its assembly which will lay off more than 380 workers.
Currently, the Nissan Almera is built from the ground up (including body panel stamping) at the Nissan Technopark in Sta. Rosa, Laguna by Univation Motor Philippines (formerly Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc.).
Arcillas also says that the “Motor City of the Philippines,” will stand to lose around 80-million pesos in annual business taxes from HCPI’s closure.
We have reached out to Nissan Philippines regarding this. This story will be updated with any new information.
Pop quiz: which Japanese carmaker you think is worth more? Nissan or Subaru? If you guessed Nissan, well you’re right…at least until last Friday. Nissan shares fell to their lowest since 2009 leaving the company with a market capitalization of 2.17 trillion yen (USD 19.8 billion) behind not just Toyota and Honda, but now, even Suzuki and Subaru as well. Investors were spooked after the Japanese carmaker cut its full-year profit outlook and scrapped its year-end dividend payout.
All in all, Nissan’s stock is down 19 percent since the start of the year, after declining 28 percent in 2019 and 22 percent in 2018.
The culprit? Falling sales in the U.S., Europe, as well as its home market of Japan, as well as instability in its senior management since the ouster and arrest of its former Carlos Ghosn.
“Unfortunately, our business performance has worsened more than we anticipated, and there’s no letting up on investing in the future,” said CEO Makoto Uchida said at a press conference at the company’s Yokohama headquarters. “In order to invest in growth, we ended up with this dividend.”
The dividend payment he referred to is the lowest since 2011 since Nissan’s trying to free up cash for investment in next-generation technology such as EVs and autonomous driving vehicles.
Worldwide sales volumes at Nissan slid 8.4 percent to 5.18 million vehicles last year, pulling down its combined performance with Renault to third place globally after Volkswagen Group, and for the first time since 2016, Toyota.
After years of sales incentives that eroded margins and pushing businesses to buy cars, CEO Uchida said Nissan needs to rebuild its brand image and focus on appealing to retail customers. The company believes that they will once again hit their stride once they launch new and/or revitalized vehicles throughout the year.
The results are beginning to overshadow Nissan’s other big headache, the charges against Ghosn on alleged financial crimes.
Disgraced former Nissan President Carlos Ghosn may have escaped Japan, but that’s not stopping his former employer from suing him to the tune of 10 billion yen (around 5 billion pesos). The suit, filed at the Yokohama District Court in Japan represents a significant part of the “monetary damages inflicted on Nissan as a result of years of his misconduct and fraudulent activity.”
This claim for damages has been calculated on the basis of costs incurred by Nissan including:
Funds liked to fraudulent payments made to or by Ghosn, including the use of overseas residential property without paying rent, private use of corporate jets, payments to his sister, payments to his personal lawyer in Lebanon, etc.;
Resources and costs related to Nissan's internal investigation into Ghosn and his misconduct
Legal and regulatory costs incurred in Japan, the U.S., the Netherlands and other territories
The new claims are in addition to an ongoing civil lawsuit initiated by Nissan against Ghosn. That one seeks, among other things, the title of a luxury yacht.
Nissan says their intensified campaign to recover damages from its former Chairman stems from his decision to flee Japan. The Japanese automaker may also pursue legal action over the “groundless and defamatory remarks” made by Ghosn at his press conference in Lebanon.
Nissan Philippines is offering free checkups for air conditioning, brakes, and suspension at participating dealerships nationwide with its Car Care Support promo which runs today until March 31, 2020. Customers who purchased a Nissan Navara, Nissan Terra, Nissan Almera, Nissan Urvan, Nissan Sylphy, and Nissan Juke beginning in 2014, can also enjoy a 10 percent discount on spare parts and labor including cabin filters, evaporators, brake pads, and shock absorbers. In addition, customers who bring in any of the abovementioned vehicles and avail of any repair services, are entitled to a free car wash of their unit.
“Buying a Nissan vehicle means a partnership for life, and this promo is part of our commitment to serving our clients through our key pillars: Products, Service, Customer Experience, and People,” says Nissan in Philippines President and Managing Director, Atsushi Najima. “This timing is also beneficial to support those whose vehicles have been affected by the Taal Volcano eruption. We want people to know that Nissan’s support continues long after they purchase their car.”
To bring the company’s innovative products and services to more Filipinos nationwide, Nissan inaugurated its first dealership for 2020 in Clark, Pampanga in partnership with Innovation Motors. Located at the Clark Freeport Zone, the dealership expands the Japanese automaker’s reach in Central Luzon, with a 10-car showroom and a 980-square meter workshop area. The 3,150-square meter Nissan Clark dealership also has the longest façade for a Nissan dealership in the Philippines to date, measuring 93 meters in length.
“Nissan Clark is the latest milestone in our partnership with the Laus Group of Companies through Innovation Motors. This dealership is an important step in Nissan’s commitment to customer satisfaction through our expansion to key areas in the country,” said Atsushi Najima, President and Managing Director of Nissan in the Philippines.
Despite persistence that the Alliance was in the verge of breaking up post Carlos Ghosn, Renault, Nissan, and Mitsubishi have jointly announced that they are instead deepening their relationship. This is not just to maximize the collaboration within each Alliance member, but also to enhance their competitiveness globally. The new framework, ratified at a meeting of the Alliance Operating Board (AOB) in Yokohama, Japan, will enhance the ability of the Alliance member companies to capitalize on the individual company’s strengths and complement their strategies.
The AOB also reaffirmed key programs outlined at the previous board meeting in November to support initiatives that will enable each member company to increase competitiveness and profitability amid the industry shift to new mobility services.
Among the plans in place include an engineering model that will work on a leader/follower model covering platforms, powertrains, and other key technologies. This means that one company will take the lead in the Alliance for the development of each key technology, which will then be spread among Alliance partners.
Interestingly enough, the Alliance revealed the so-called “leader” for each key market. Nissan will take the lead for China, Renault for Europe, and Mitsubishi for Southeast Asia.
As a consequence of this announcement, the three companies will announce changes to their own strategic mid-term plans which will be disclosed in further detail coming May 2020.
Nissan Philippines launches its “Service on Wheels,” a mobile solution that delivers scheduled onsite aftersales services and repairs, such as house calls or service caravans. This is to provide Nissan customers excellent vehicle car and services to more customers outside of their authorized service centers. Answering customer requests, the program enables participating Nissan dealerships to deploy a specially-kitted Navara, the only variant with rear leaf springs operated by two Nissan-certified technicians.
Now, we asked Nissan Philippines if this is a sign that they will be launching a leaf-sprung version of the Navara soon. They have confirmed: it will only be used for the Service on Wheels program. In short, if you want to drive one, you have to be one of the Nissan-certified technicians.
Going back to the Service on Wheels program, the Navara contains various tools and equipment to provide services including light periodic maintenance; vehicle diagnosis; replacement of consumable items such as tires, brakes, and batteries; light repairs; and emergency roadside assistance.
The service is now available in select Nissan dealerships across the Philippines.
“Service on Wheels is a way for Nissan to extend our expertise in vehicle care outside our service centers. This gives a new and exciting dimension to our reliable services by delivering satisfaction to our customers, wherever they are,” says Atsushi Najima, President and Managing Director of Nissan Philippines.
Nissan customers can contact the Nissan Customer Assistance Center Hotline at +63 2 8403 6591 or +63 917 600 9557 or contact their nearest authorized Nissan dealership to inquire about Service on Wheels.
Nissan Philippines continues its momentum in 2019, finishing the year as the fastest growing brand yet again. For the entire 12-month period, the Japanese carmaker sold 42,694 units equating to a 22.2 percent growth. This is five times the auto industry’s growth last year. With this impressive performance, Nissan maintains its rank within the top three automotive brands in the country according to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines or CAMPI. Within 2019, Nissan broke two of its own sales records, selling 4,616 units in March and 4,768 units in September. In September, the Navara became the best-selling pickup truck in the country.
Among its line-up, the Navara contributed the most, selling 19,034 units or 44.6 percent of total sales. The Nissan Terra mid-sized SUV and the Urvan followed each contributing 10,469 and 7,157 units respectively. Moreover, the Terra is now the third best-selling mid-sized SUV among CAMPI brands by the end of 2019.
This 2020, Nissan aims to sustain its growth with innovative products (including the all-electric Leaf), reliable services, a strong dealer network, and a vibrant company culture.
