Above: Nissan will also focus more on upgrading its dealership network and after-sales service.

Nissan Motor (Thailand) aims to raise its market share to double digits by 2018 from 5.6% now.

President Kazutaka Nambu, who yesterday outlined the Japanese carmaker’s mid-term plan ending in 2018, said Nissan plans to launch five new models by 2018 to help boost market share.

He said the company is also confident in the strong fundamentals of Thailand’s car market and expects it to recover to hit annual sales of 1 million vehicles again in 2020.

“Although the current market has been hit hard by massive car sales driven by the first-time car buyer scheme that expired in 2012, the market remains full of potential for Nissan to grow its sales and and market share,” Mr Nambu said.

Above: Kazutaka Nambu, president of Nissan Motor (Thailand), presents the Almera Nismo eco-car. Under its three-year plan, Nissan will focus on upgrading its nationwide dealership network and after-sales service.

Under its three-year plan, Nissan will also focus more on upgrading its dealership network and after-sales service.

According to marketing consultant J.D. Power’s survey of the customer service index for Thailand’s automotive market in the mass segment, Nissan was ranked sixth with 858 points.

Honda and Toyota were ranked top with 882 points each, with Isuzu third on 875 points.

Above: Toyota was ranked top with 882 points.

Mr Nambu said Nissan would develop its 200 outlets and service centres nationwide to move up to the top three in the near future.

For the fiscal year that started in April, Nissan is also upbeat about achieving sales growth of 2% to 50,000 vehicles, with market share up by 0.5% to 7%.

However, Nissan reported its sales dropped by 5.2% from April to June to 10,392 vehicles.

“The overall market is expected to shrink by 7-8% this year to only 740,000 units,” Mr Nambu said. “The market is expected to recover from next year.”

Nissan reported its highest sales during fiscal 2012 with 138,000 vehicles, propelled by the first-time car buyer scheme, before dropping to 74,000 in 2013.

Nissan sold 56,600 vehicles in its 2014 fiscal year, down 23.5%.

Above: The market is expected to recover from next year.

Nissan reported last month that its eco-car production had passed 500,000 vehicles, comprised of the March and Almera models. Its plant in Samut Prakan started to make eco-cars in March 2010.

Some 50% of the output was for export to 13 countries including Japan.

Although the parent firm has yet to disclose plans for Nissan’s eco-car expansion, it remains committed to production.

Source: Bangkok Post