Nissan to expand TIIDA sales across Europe

Nissan Europe is introducing the TIIDA model to a further five markets early next year, following its recent selective European launch. As from January 2008, Germany, Switzerland and Austria will offer both the four and five door models while Spain and Portugal will launch the five-door model. All three engines will be available; a 1.6 liter petrol (110hp), a 1.8 liter petrol (126hp) and a 1.5dCi (105hp).

The latest countries identified were part of the ongoing launch strategy for the TIIDA model in Europe, where Nissan studied market opportunities where there was a concentration of loyal customers of Almera and Primera who may consider purchasing a similar model in the future. Once fully rolled out, the total volume for the model will reach 40,000 units. „Up to 60% of TIIDA customers will have owned a Nissan previously, so by expanding the launch across Europe we are allowing even more customers the opportunity to stay with Nissan for many more years.

Equally, we are confident that TIIDA’s many strengths will also lead buyers to Nissan for the first time,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Nissan Europe. TIIDA was launched in the Baltics, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia since June and will be launched in Russia and Ukraine in October.

The model is also sold in many global markets including Japan, the US (Versa) and in Mexico, where all TIIDA models for the European market are built at Nissan’s Civac plant. The name TIIDA is derived from a word in a Japanese dialect meaning ‘ever-changing tide’ and sits between NOTE and QASHQAI in terms of price. It appeals to the customer looking for a more conventional type of car and places an emphasis on traditional values such as comfort, interior space and ease of use.

In Europe, Nissan employs approximately 12,000 people in its design, research and development, manufacturing, logistics, and sales and marketing operations. Last year, the company manufactured a total of 507,201 vehicles in its Spanish and British plants and sold 539,773 vehicles in Europe. Nissan Europe’s Head Office is based in Trappes (Paris), France.