Nissan to Launch 7 New Models in Africa to Enhance Growth

Posted on : Wednesday, 15th July 2020

Nissan Motor Co aims to launch seven new models in Africa over the next two years, company executives said last month, as the Japanese automaker seeks to focus on high-growth markets to try to weather the impact of the COVID-19 situation.
 

The company released a plan last month to cut the number of models it makes globally and improve efficiency after the pandemic brought about its first annual loss in 11 years.

Shinkichi Izumi, managing director at Nissan South Africa, said, Nissan will grow its SUV and cross-over portfolio in Africa with seven new models, of which four will be in the SUV (sports utility vehicle) category.  

It aims to make Africa a hub for light commercial vehicles (LCV), will expand production of its popular Navara pick-ups and open plants in Ghana and Kenya, Izumi said.

He did not revealed details of the investment and levels of production for the region, although Nissan said last year it would allocate 3 billion rand ($174.07 million) on its Navara model.

"We are going to locally produce the new Navara model and we are also looking at export," Guillaume Cartier, Chairman for Nissan's Africa, Middle East, and India (AMI) region, told a media call.