New Nissan pickup packs a big punch
Looking for the most powerful pickup in the market? Nissan Thailand has just launched the Navara, which comes with a 2.5-litre diesel engine producing 174 brake horsepower and 403Nm of torque.
The vehicle also has six-speed transmission, a first in the Thai pickup market. A lower-powered version of the 2.5-litre engine will also be available, producing 144bhp and 356Nm of torque. "The new Navara is likely to capture the hearts of the Thai public. We expect to sell about 40,000 units this year. This is more than 10 per cent of the Thai pickup market," Thierry Viadieu, president of Siam Nissan Automobile, said yesterday. He said customers would see the Navara - priced between Bt569,000 and Bt849,000 - as better value for money, with more visible accessories than its competitors provide. Nissan will be more aggressive this year, Viadieu said, adding that he was not happy with the company's current market share. This year the company hopes to sell 55,000 vehicles, up 79 per cent from last year's 30,625. Nissan's market share has been in continuous decline over the past four years, falling to 5 per cent last year. The company will focus on four main areas in a bid to improve the situation. First is better financing options for customers, via Nissan Leasing Thailand. Second, the company plans to increase its presence in the market with additional marketing campaigns and becoming more visible in the public eye. Third, it will focus on new products and help customers better understand what is on offer. Finally, the Nissan dealer network will be strengthened. The company will also strengthen its after-sales service. The Navara and Tiida have been set as Nissan's "Pillar" products, and this is where the company will focus its effort. Sales training will also be increased. Moreover, in order to increase relations with dealerships, a satisfaction survey is being developed to better understand the needs of the decreasing number of Nissan dealers. "Our main strategy, however, is still the same. We plan to stay in Thailand and in the Asean region. We will have to strengthen our activities here and better synchronise between the companies in the region, but we are confident about our success," Viadieu said. Vijo Varghese The Nation
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