EDITION 137 (2012/05/07)

News and Views

NISSAN SA NEW VEHICLES SALES YTD 42,5% UP ON 2011

The April domestic market demonstrated the anticipated seasonal dip of 26,2% vs March  and showed a 5,7% increase vs April 2011.  The NSA volume of 3 242 units was 34,3% down on March but a respectable 27,6% up on April last year.  The resultant 9,4% market share is 1,6 points up year-on-year and sufficient to maintain a year-to-date share in the double digits.  Year-to-date Nissan is showing a 42,5% year-on-year growth in a market growing by 3,9% - a fantastic showing for the first four months of the year.

Nissan dealers retailed 2 634 units resulting in an 8,5% market share.  The 51,5% April year-on-year and 40% year-to-date growth  is phenomenal in a market that has grown by just 6,7%.

NP200 retained its great momentum with a volume of 1 340 units and, although there were no passenger car standouts, Juke, Qashqai, Livina and Micra volumes were all respectable and contributed to a Nissan passenger volume in excess of four figures.  NP300 Hardbody showed some dealer sales promise with 589 units on the back of some strong fleet business.

 

OUTSTANDING RESPONSE TAKES JUKE-R FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY

Following the phenomenal reaction to the Juke-R concept and in keeping with its brand promise to deliver innovation and excitement, Nissan has announced it will bring Juke-R to reality in a very limited run, available for customers on a build-to-order basis. 

The 3.8-litre, 160 mph Juke-R concept made its global debut in Dubai in January this year, attracting enormous attention and, as a result, Nissan has now received firm orders for three cars to be built. Two have come from a high-profile member of Dubai society. 
 
To coincide with the announcement, Nissan is also launching a cinematic online movie today via Facebook, staring Juke-R.  Desert Nemesis follows Nissan’s inaugural GT Academy winner, Lucas Ordonez, as he takes on the world’s best supercars.  In the run-up to the film several teaser trailers have been released through Nissan’s Facebook and YouTube channels, offering the audience ‘behind-the-scenes’ footage of one of the automotive industry’s bravest, boldest productions.  

For full details on the Juke-R and Desert Nemesis please visit:
 http://www.facebook.com/NissanJukeOfficial.

 
SIZING UP THE COMPETITION FOR LE MANS

Nissan-engined sports cars finished first, second and third in the Le Mans Prototype (LMP) 2 class in Saturday’s Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.  The race, round two of the FIA World Endurance Championship and an opportunity to size up the opposition ahead of the Le Mans 24 Hours on June 16 and 17, was won by the LMP1 class Audi R18 Ultra of Romain Dumas, Loic Duval and Marc Gene, who completed 160 laps in the six hours.
Winner of the LMP2 class and eighth overall was the Zytek Z11SN-Nissan of Simon Dolan and Sam Hancock, who finished nine laps behind the winners.  Ninth overall and second LMP2 car home was the Oreca Nissan of John Martin/Robbie Kerr/Tor Graves, just 6 seconds behind the Zytek Nissan.  Tenth overall and third in LMP2 were Jody Firth/Warren Hughes/Brandon Hartley in an Oreca Nissan, 34 seconds in arrears.
The LMP2 class was competitive with 16 cars taking the start, nine of which were running with Nissan engines. This busy class provided a taste of what’s to come at Le Mans when 20 LMP2 cars will fight for top honours.

Nissan’s GT Academy winner Jordan Tresson, sharing the No 23 Oreca Nissan with Franck Mailleux and Olivier Lombard, finished 33rd overall and 13th in the LMP2 class.

 

MARKETING NEWS

X-Trail – minor change

X-Trail minor change 2012 is coming soon, with increased audio specification on the entry level XE grade and audio updates on the SE grade.  The entry-level XE has been upgraded to include technology like Bluetooth interface, USB audio functionality and steering wheel controls for ease of use.  On the mid-range SE grade changes include USB audio compatibility and the inclusion of a one CD player instead of the standard six CD player.  We are confident these changes will result in renewed interest in the X-Trail as this refreshment is aimed at meeting the needs of the compact SUV driver.

Nampo Harvest Day Show

With over 73 000 visitors attending the 2011 show, the Free State is set to come alive again for the 2012 Nampo Harvest Day show from May 15 to 18.  The small town of Bothaville will play host to over 670 local and international exhibitors, creating a great networking opportunity for all role-players in the agricultural industry.

Activities at the show include a ploughing competition (based on the international World Ploughing Championships), daily 4x4 demonstrations at the obstacle course and the Grain SA Farmer Patent Competition.

Nissan will once again be present at the show (stands 125 and 126) and will be showcasing a variety of vehicles, as well as taking part in the 4x4 demonstrations.  The ever-popular Strong Man competition is expected to be a big attraction.

Nissan National Half Marathon, Mabalingwe

The MTN National Marathon Series driven by NISSAN takes place in Mabalingwe Game Reserve, Limpopo on Saturday.  Due to the popularity of the race, entries are closed but it still promises to be a fun-filled day, so bring along your family and friends and support your favourite cyclists.

 

Nissan National Half Marathon, 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

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The Renault-Nissan alliance will form a joint venture with Russian Technologies Corporatio, to become the largest shareholder in AvtoVAZ, Russia's biggest automaker.  Renault and Nissan will together invest about $750 million to take a majority holding in the joint venture, which will in turn own 74.5% of AvtoVAZ.  Carlos Ghosn is looking to the maker of Lada brand vehicles to fuel growth in Russia, where the market may reach 4 million annual sales in 2015, surpassing Germany to become Europe's biggest, as rising incomes and a surge in consumer spending drive consumers toward showrooms.
Car registrations in Germany rose 3% in April as the country continued to buck the downward sales trend in major European markets.  Registrations increased to 274 066 last month, compared with 266 251 in April 2011, according to the federal transport authority (KBA).  Sales in France, Italy and Spain all declined last month, as most of Europe continued to suffer the effects of an economic downturn that kept buyers out of showrooms.