Droomers Weekly! (edition 146)

Droomers - "The People who care"

EDITION 146(2012/07/09)

“THE PEOPLE WHO CARE…”

WELCOME

Welcome to the weekly edition of Droomers Weekly your leading news and information source on Nissan, Droomers Nissan and the motor industry in general. Our objectives are to be informational, educational and relevant. We will also appreciate comments, complaints and suggestions and you can e-mail us at info@droomersnissan.co.za.

THE BUYING DECISION

When I decide to replace my current vehicle, the exciting process begins where I have to decide what to buy. This might seem like a simple task, but keep in mind that in many cases you bought your vehicle four to five years ago. There were a lot of changes since then of which can be the following for instance, model changes, technological changes, emissions tax (CO2 tax), new legislation and the Credit Act. It is for instance a fact that you have a much wider choice of models today than four to five years ago. This is wonderful, but what will suit my needs from this wide variety of choices? This might sound like a daunting task, but do not let this intimidate you. We suggest that you sit down with whoever helps you in the buying decision and write down on a piece of paper what your specific needs will be. Now you should start researching the market to identify which products might suit your needs best. An important pointer is to consider the running costs of the vehicles you are looking into and a useful guide would be the Kinsey report. This report is compiled by Malcolm Kinsey for the past 22 years and provides you with all you need to know about parts prices. This report can be found on www.aa.co.za/37/reports. This is important, because you do not only have your monthly bank premium and monthly insurance premium to consider, but also running costs which affects your pocket. This will also influence your trade in price, because vehicles with higher running costs will fetch lower trade in prices as there won’t be such a big market for them. After you have done your research you can start with the buying experience by visiting the dealerships and asking the sales consultants all the questions that you have done your homework on. Ensure that the sales consultant listens to your needs and that he do not try to sell you what he wants to sell you, because of personal reasons.

WORKSHOP CSI

Congratulations to Wynand Smit and his team who ended up with the fourth highest workshop CSI score for all Nissan dealerships in South Africa for the month of June 2012.

JUNE NEW VEHICLES SALES

June domestic new vehicle sales showed respectable growth of 4% vs. May and a 15.2% increase on June 2011. The NSA volume of 3.965 units was 4% up on May and a very healthy 23.6% up on June last year. The resultant 9.1% market share is 0.6 share points up year on year. Year to date 2012 Nissan is showing a 37.4% year on year growth in a market growing by 8.2% - a fantastic showing for the first half of the year.

Nissan dealers retailed 3029 units resulting in a 8.1% market share. Nissan’s month on month sales were essentially flat as was the dealer TIV. However, with 27.3% June year on year and 39.2% year to date growth we are way ahead of the dealer market which is growing at 10.1%.

Having reached the halfway mark of 2012, NSA can look back on the first six months and be very satisfied – we have grown four times more than the market and increased share by 2.1%, NSA have moved up two positions from fifth to third in new vehicle sales volume rankings. And, most importantly, NSA is making strong inroads into the passenger market. These are achievements of which we can all be proud.

As NSA revisits their forecasts at the quarter end, it is a very positive sign that the dealer total industry volume has outperformed our forecasts by 9.1%.

INFINITI LAUNCH WEEK AT LE FRANSCHHOEK IN CAPE TOWN

The countdown has started to the official launch of Infinti in South Africa. June 26 was D-day and NSA is all excited about what lies ahead for Infiniti.

The official launch was a three-day event that took place at Le Franschhoek in Cape Town. On June 26 and 27 NSA hosted the local motoring media and on June 28 it was the turn of Nissan regional dealer staff. Everyone had the opportunity to experience Infiniti luxury at its best with a test drive of the flagship FX50 and FX30d. The Infiniti M, EX, G Coupe and Cabrio were all also on display. The FX50 and FX30d test route promised to thrill even the most daring of people with enough twists and turns on the mountain passes, as well as some open roads to test the power of the vehicle.

The venue chosen for the event was a perfect match as it epitomizes sophistication and style while maintaining modern elegance. The food selection for the event contributed to the overall experience and to top it all, the entertainment left the guests captivated.

NISSAN LEAF BACKS INTO THE FUTURE

The multiple award-winning Nissan LEAF rewrote the record books at the Goodwood racetrack in England at the end of June. It set a record as the fastest car over a measured mile (1.6km) in reverse.

Driven by professional stunt driver Terry Grant, the Nissan LEAF raced backwards up the famous Goodwood hillclimb course at the weekend’s Festival of Speed, covering the distance in 1m 37.02s at an average speed of 88.5km/h (55mph).

Having set the record on Friday, the opening day of the Festival, Terry went on to smash his time on Saturday and Sunday, shaving an amazing 26 seconds off Friday’s time.

Terry, who set a world record at last year’s festival by driving a Nissan Juke up the hill on two wheels, says: “I had a great car at my disposal – with direct drive from the electric motor to its wheels, the Nissan LEAF can, in theory, go as fast backwards as it can forwards. There were times I wasn’t sure I was coming or going. However, thanks to the LEAF’s low centre of gravity – the batteries are an integral part of the car’s floor – the car is extremely stable, no matter which direction it’s traveling.”

The LEAF Reverse Record is part of Nissan’s ambitious social media-driven campaign, ‘The Big Turn On’, which is spreading the EV message across Europe using social media channels and aimed to get one million consumers switched onto electric driving, in just 100 days. The one million ‘turn ons’ target was achieved on the 21st June, 15 days ahead of the original target.

The Nissan LEAF Reverse Record was just one of a number of Nissan highlights at the Festival. The dramatic race-prepared Nissan LEAF NISMO RC was driven (and in the correct direction) by current FIA GT1 world champion Michael Krumm, who also drove his 540hp GT-R GT1 racer up the hill. The newest production GT-R Track Pack took part in the Supercar Run, while the stunning Juke-R - a GT-R in Juke’s clothes – also wowed the crowds.

For more information go to http://www.the-big-turn-on.com

NISSAN JUKE – BUILT TO THRILL

With the Nissan JUKE making massive waves in the South African market, we are truly proud that Nissan SA is being inundated with numerous requests and proposals from top brands in SA, socialites, actors and DJs to partner with JUKE and leverage off of our success. Not surprising, since JUKE has infiltrated the highly competitive B-Segment, claiming over 5% market share and selling nearly 3500 units in only a few months! This spunky new edition to the Nissan range is sure to take the Nissan brand to new heights, showcasing Nissan’s leadership in technical innovation and pioneering design.

Now for some really exciting news: Put 5FM, Billabong and Nissan JUKE team into one room and what do you get?

The “5FM Music Festival at the Billabong Pro, proudly driven by Nissan JUKE”

Nissan Juke has joined forces with two of South Africa’s biggest youth brands, 5FM and Billabong, to put together a spectacular event that is guaranteed to rock the socks off the seaside town of Jeffrey’s Bay!

This year, we have transformed the 26 year old international surfing festival in Jeffrey’s Bay into a one-of-a-kind 3-day festival, featuring nearly 50 of the best local and international music acts, pro surfers from around the globe – and of course, their car of choice: Nissan JUKE!

The festival takes over the town this weekend (July 13, 14 and 15). There are plenty of tickets available for this rocking event. Visit the Juke Facebook page for more info.

NISSAN TRAILSEEKER – DIAMOND RUSH

Just a friendly reminder that the Nissan Trailseeker race #2 Diamond Rush takes place at Oak Lane (Seringa Rd), Cullinan Mine, Cullinan, Gauteng on July 14. Due to the popularity of the Trailseeker Series the race was capped and all entries are now closed. As always, you are most welcome to bring your family and friends for a fun-filled day as the quaint town of Cullinan has many items of interest for the entire family. The town is lively and hosts a number of hotels, restaurants, historical sites as well as a number of museums, including the Second World War memorabilia museum.

While watching the mountain bikers in action, the Nissan chill zone will be available for you to relax in. Children can again entertain themselves in the popular Kids Zone.

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

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

X-TRAIL LIVE THE X-LIFE

NSA is currently running a competition on X-trail. Customers who book and attend a test drive stand the chance to win a mountain bike and accessories to the value of R42 000.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Nissan Motor Company last week announced it will help ease anticipated electricity supply constraints in the summer through measures to be taken jointly with the City of Osaka and Osaka Prefecture under the “power saving actions with Nissan LEAF” initiative. Nissan’s contribution to the power saving measures will include the provision of the “LEAF to Home” power supply system. Free of cost, Nissan will loan 250 sets of Nissan LEAFs paired with “EV Power Station” units, which are made by the Nichicon Corporation.
Nissan North America is preparing for its run on the compact sedan market next year by adding North American factory capacity for the Sentra. The Sentra will be redesigned for the 2013 model year and Nissan hopes to make it a more serious rival to the segment dominating Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. Last week Nissan said it will spend $23 million to mix Sentra production into its existing lines at Canton, Mississippi, where it also builds the Altima, light trucks and commercial vans.
Higher factory output of the Nissan Versa and Infiniti JX crossover helped push combined Nissan North America sales ahead by 28% in June compared with June 2011. Versa sales more than doubled for the month to 8 746 as Nissan’s factory in Mexico boosted shipments to US retailers. The car has been held back in the United States by strong demand from other markets and limited transmission supplies. Nissan Division sales totaled 81 801 for the month, up 25% from June 2011, and until sales rose 66% to 10 436.