Nissan committed to sustainable presence in Nigeria

Confronted by the stack realities that pervades the global and regional automotive sector, occasioned by low demand for finished products in some markets and made worse by the scarcity of foreign exchange, Nissan sub-Sahara Africa  says it targets about 20% share of the Nigeria vehicle market under its partnership with Stallion Nissan Motors NIgeria, it’s local partners.

This disclosure was made by Mike Whitfield, Managing Director of Nissan South Africa in  a media chat granted to BusinessDay aselected journalists during the last South Africa Festival of Motoring  in Midrand, Johannesburg.

He told our reporter shortly after the unveiling of the new Nissan GT-R  muscle car that , ” As a Nissan brand, we would like to be around 20% of 400,000 units and not 40,000 as the current volume of new market in Nigeria. If you look at the vehicle market today,” he explained, ” it is difficult to justify any real focus in investment in the market that is only 40,000 or thereabout. However, our focus is a long term approach.Everything we are doing is because we have a long term faith.”

Whitefield who doubles as the President of National Association of Automobile Manufacturers, South Africa (NAAMSA) and Vice-President, African Association of Automobile Manufacturers (AAAM) expressed worry on the setback experienced in the Nigeria’s auto industry, which has  obviously been frustrating, because things haven’t moved as we would like to see due to the scarcity or lack of foreign currency.”

According to him, “Having done business in many developing countries, we realise you don’t go into any country and expect a short term success. “We believe from the Nissan perspective, we are moving forward as planned, but we will like to see it move much faster. However, we are still very committed to the ultimate goal to have sustainable presence in Nigeria.”

Reacting on  what Nissan intend to do to sustain the projected 20% share of Nigeria’s market when her stronghold has lately been the high-end market as against the low end market, he said his organization’s intention is to find solution to affordability first.