EDITION 124 (2012/02/06)

News and Views

JANUARY NEW VEHICLE SALES

Nissan new vehicle sales in January were the biggest in the company’s history for the opening month of the year!  Our market share of 10,2% was up 5,3 points year on year and equalled NSA’s historical highest market share figure during the past 10 years of November 2009. 

The January total domestic market was up a respectable 5,8% vs a very strong December 2011 and 7,1% vs January 2011.  Nissan entered 2012 in grand style with a volume of
4 104 units, up 28,7% on December and a fantastic 122% better than January last year. 

Congratulations and thank you all on this magnificent achievement!

On the dealer front, we retailed 2 920 units for an 8,9% market share – a statistic we are verifying as a dealer share record!  The 9,8% month on month increase is significant in a dealer market that was essentially flat and the 104% year on year increase means we jumped out of the starting blocks way ahead of the competition.  Our Top 3 volume selling dealers for January 2012 were BB Polokwane (93 units), McCarthy Woodmead (87 units) and East Rand Mall Nissan (73 units).  Congratulations to all involved in these great efforts.

The stand out hero among our models was NP200 (1 506 units), which finally captured the title of half-ton segment leader from the new Chev Utility by 301 units and Ford Bantam by 925 units.  Juke sales of 602 units show that the honeymoon is far from over on this product and Micra volume of 580 units is a great sign of things to come.

 

2012 NISSAN GT-R NOW AVAILABLE

The 2012 model year Nissan GT-R has been announced and will be in South African Nissan dealer showrooms this month.
 
Key specifications at a glance are:

•    More power (397 kW), improved economy and lower emissions
•    Unique asymmetric suspension settings on RHD cars
•    Enhanced transmission shift feel
•    Special race tuned oils used in differential
•    Body strengthened for even greater handling finesse
•    New Bose® Precision Sound System woofers
•    Rear view camera standard
 
Significant improvements to the engine, chassis and transmission are the key changes to Nissan's flagship model for the 2012 model year.
 
When it was launched, the iconic GT-R created a new type of super car.  Performance and handling were exceptional, of course, but more importantly the car's potential was accessible to all drivers under all conditions.  It was greeted with universal praise, but Nissan's policy of constant development means the GT-R continues to evolve.
 
The latest version, of which the first orders will be delivered in South Africa this month, is the most efficient yet.   It offers even greater performance, but this is allied to improved economy and lower emissions to provide further excitement to drivers and passengers.
 
As well as more power, the 2012 GT-R has a newly developed asymmetric suspension which compensates for greater weight on the driver's side in RHD models, enhanced transmission ‘feel' and a stronger body for extra rigidity and ever better handling.

 

MARKETING NEWS

Juke

JUKE sales turbo-charged

JUKE sales clipped the 2 000 unit mark in just over three months!  The market excitement and dealer focus has contributed significantly to this outstanding achievement.  JUKE sales also contributed to a 39% growth in the Nissan passenger and SUV sales volume since launch and are outperforming popular B-segment brands.  Adding to its list of achievements, JUKE also boasts an all-time high in terms of interest in aftersales accessories across the Nissan range. This is a clear indication of great customer acceptance of this vehicle. 

Nissan National Half Marathon – Tulbagh

The National ULTRA Marathon #2 – Tulbagh will take place in the Western Cape on February 18.  Tulbagh is a circular loop race and starts at the Saronsberg Wine Estate,  5 km outside Tulbagh, and finishes at the same venue.  Mountain bikers can choose from a variety of distances at this event: 120 km, 75 km, 45 km and a 20 km fun race.  Tulbagh offers visitors a wide variety of activities and outstanding accommodation, not to mention the largest concentration of national monuments in one street in South Africa.  The event also offers an abundance of breathtaking mountain bike trails that are sure to challenge even the most adventurous. 

Entries close on February 14.

For more information, please visit www.advendurance.co.za

 

MTN Gravel Travel - XCM #6 Driven By Nissan - Wellington

This popular race will again be co sponsored by Nissan SA and Droomers Nissan will showcase vehicles and man a watering point. Our friendly sales staff will be available to answer all your Nissan questions. Details of the event are as follows:
 
Date:  25/26 August 2012
Venue:  Diemersfontein wine & country estate, Wellington, WP S 33 39 33.7 |  E 19 00 15.8
Terrain: Fynbos | Rocky | Vineyard's
Elevation: 341m  |  Ascent: 2900m (ultra) 1850m (75km)
Participants: 1800+
Features: Single tracks | Dams | Old Cape-Epic Routes
Registration: Fri 24/08 14:00-21:00 & Sat 25/08 06h30 - 16h00 & Sun 26/08 06h30 - 08h30
 
This event takes place on farm roads and jeep tracks heading away from Diemersfontein, through the vineyards and farms of Wellington, crossing the Bainskloof Pass road and heading towards Groenberg Mountain. The well-balanced, fast route is jam-packed with beautiful views, fynbos, historic farmsteads, stream crossings and vineyard settings, passing many of the local award-winning cellars. Expect fast flowing single track, technically within reach of everyone.
 
The Wellington Tourism & Wine Route of the Western Cape in South Africa is today a major tourist attraction. Nestling at the foot of the Groenberg, the historic town of Wellington lies in a picturesque valley on the banks of the Kromme River with the majestic Hawequa Mountains standing guard on its eastern border. Wellington, in the heart of the Boland and rich in cultural, religious and educational history, is an unsurpassed area to enjoy the winelands and scenery of the Western Cape in South Africa
 
The beauty of the area is best viewed either by foot, horse, bicycle or by car to take in the scenery of nature, fynbos, wine, olives and the historical buildings to name but a few. The pass up to Bain's Kloof winds through pine tree plantations, to the summit where on a clear day you can see a vast area, consisting of the Swartland to the left, home of the extensive wheat fields, the Cape Flats and Cape Town to the right, and the sun glimmering on the sea.
 
Diemersfontein is known for its beauty, informal elegance, and grace - an idyllic country destination only 45 minutes' drive from Cape Town and is situated near the Cape's famous Wine Routes. We warmly invite you to share with us the tranquil spirit of Diemersfontein - whether you are conferencing here, marrying here, staying for a few days of leisure (or even permanently) - or taking some of it home in a bottle!
 
We will also have a 5km kiddies ride in the venue so bring along your kids to the event, they will have a ball!

For more information, please visit www.advendurance.co.za

 

DEALER COMPLIMENTS

Leon Laing wrote to Droomers Nissan's service manager Wynand Smit: " Verskriklik dankie vir die fantastiese diens wat julle vir my gedoen het. Dit is nou my eerste keer wat ek 'n Nissan ry, maar met sulke goeie diens sal dit def. nie my laaste keer wees nie.Jy kan regtig trots voel oor jou mense wat onder jou werk.Jy kan 'n ver pad saam met sulke mense stap. Weereens dankie Wynand vir alles wat jy/julle vir my gedoen het."

 

 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS

New car registrations in France fell 21% year-on-year in January with Fiat, General Motors and Renault the worst hit as economic gloom and an incentives phase-out hit demand.  Some 147 143 cars were delivered in January, according to the CCFA automakers' association.  GM sales tumbled 45% while Fiat and Renault dropped by a third.  France's overall light vehicle registrations tumbled 18%, as commercial vans resisted the slump with a decline of just 2.5%.

US auto sales jumped 11% in January, led by huge gains at Chrysler and Volkswagen.  Altima sales pushed Nissan ahead 12%.  Automakers sold 913 284 light vehicles for the month, the best January since 2008. The seasonally adjusted annual selling rate was 14.2 million, which matches the cash-for-clunkers selling rate of August 2009.

The top 10 selling cars in the US in January were: 1 Toyota Camry (28 295), 2 Nissan Altima (22 357), 3 Honda Civic (21 883), 4 Toyota Corolla/Matrix (17 988) and 5 Chev Impala (16 009). 

 
German new-car registrations dropped slightly in January.  In France, sales fell 21% and in Italy volume dropped 16.9%.  Only Spain bucked the trend, with a modest sales rise of 2.5%.