NEWS

Nissan’s new Micra is a key model for dealers. JAMES BAGGOTT takes it for a spin WHAT IS IT? It’s one of the most important cars for Nissan dealers, that’s what. The Micra will account for 18,000 Nissan sales this year, behind only the crossovers Juke and Qashqai. The manufacturer believes some 70 per cent [...]

DUE to ‘unprecedented demand’ Nissan is giving customers free cars to ‘keep them happy’. The firm has seen huge demand for its Juke, Qashqai and Qashqai+2 models leading to delivery times of more than three months. In a move to keep customers ‘happy’ and ‘mobile’, Nissan offering a free loan car for buyers  ’to tide them [...]

NISSAN Leicester official launch evening got off to the best possible start with the sale of a brand new car. The event marked the official opening of the dealership which sits alongside the existing Renault Leicester as a dual franchise in the city. Guests welcomed with drinks and canapés on arrival together with a Nissan [...]

THE Ford Focus regained the number one spot in January’s sales tables, SMMT figures reveal. Sales of Ford’s mid-sized hatchback topped more than 7,500 sold – up four places on December’s figures. The Fiesta followed in second while December’s winner, the Vauxhall Astra, dropped to third. The Griffin-badged hatchback’s younger brother, the Corsa, fell to [...]

NISSAN is hoping to improve customer retention levels with a five-point plan for its dealer network. Called ‘You+ Nissan Care’ the scheme aims to improve sales by ensuring existing customers get the best possible service. ‘The way you retain customers is to deliver them a decent service,’ explained Nissan GB boss Paul Willcox. ‘If you [...]

NISSAN is now open for business in Leicester as the doors of a brand new dealership have opened. The new dealership sits alongside the existing Renault Leicester showroom and forms part of a ‘dual-franchise’. It will provide motorists with a wide choice of both new and used Nissan cars and vans together with expert servicing. [...]

NISSAN has confirmed the Cube has been canned and will no longer be imported once current stock has sold. Speaking exclusively to Car Dealer, MD Paul Willcox confirmed the unusual model will no longer be sold in Europe. The car has struggled to find buyers due to its high price and quirky, boxy styling that [...]

NISSAN has kicked off 2011 by having a reshuffle – they have announced changes within their corporate sales department. James Douglas, Nissan’s current fleet sales director has been promoted to corporate sales director, replacing Tony Lewis who has moved to Nissan Europe to take up the position of Director Sales and Marketing, Light Commercial Vehicles [...]

NISSAN has sketched out the future of its all-electric Leaf to reassure drivers to get ‘behind the wheel.’ The firm has quoted CAP experts who have said that the Leaf will retain 47 per cent of its on the road price (after the £5000 government incentive) after three years and 30,000 miles, and the price [...]

NISSAN has announced the 24-strong network of dealers selected to sell the all-electric Nissan Leaf. The 24 Nissan EV dealers have been chosen to give the best coverage across the UK for customers, and for their high customer service Like the GT-R, the Leaf will have an appointed EV relationship manager in each dealership which [...]

NISSAN’S Leaf has been awarded the most important accolade in the industry – it’s European Car of the Year. The Leaf fought off competition from the likes of Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Dacia, Ford, Opel/Vauxhall and Volvo, to take the crown, and in so doing the Leaf becomes the first ever electric car to take the accolade. [...]

THE latest batch of Euro NCAP crash tests has been carried out revealing some surprises. Audi A1′s, the Mini Countryman, Ford C-MAX and Ford Grand C-MAX, Kia’s Sportage, the Vauxhall Meriva, the facelifted Volkswagen Passat, and the new VW Sharan/Seat Alhambra were all awarded Euro NCAP’s maximum rating of 5-stars. Nissan’s new Micra was awarded [...]

NISSAN GB chief Paul Wilcox has declared the Juke’s launch as the most successful in the firm’s UK history. Speaking exclusively to Car Dealer as we handed over the Web Innovation of the Year Eward, Wilcox told us he was over the moon with the Juke’s success so far. He said the marque had an incredible 3,000 [...]

Winner: Nissan Juke microsite Produced by: Digitas Highly commended: Citroen.co.uk Highly commended: Carsite’s RAC videos The Web Innovation Eward is handed to a web-based product or service for the motor trade that has done something truly innovative this year. We stipulated that it needed to be as revolutionary as possible – and our winner has hit the nail on the head! [...]

NISSAN has announced its September figures – and the UK is still the maker’s best selling market. The European branch of Nissan sold a total of 56,269 cars in September, 16,518 of which were sold in the UK. The figures also reveal that Nissan in Europe made a five per cent increase on 2009, and took an overall [...]

VERTU has today exchanged contracts to acquire two Cheshire car dealers from Lookers plc. The dual franchise dealers are Macclesfield Renault and Ford, and Altrincham Renault and Nissan. Altrincham is actually the first time Vertu has run a Nissan car dealer. It also takes Vertu’s Renault representation up to 5, and Ford up to 20. [...]

NISSAN has announced order books for the LEAF electric car will open in a month’s time in the UK. The dramatic announcement for the electric car means the first genuine zero-emissions battery electric car will soon be a car dealer reality. Prices start from £23,990. This includes the battery, and includes the January 2011 20 [...]

ELECTRIC car sales WILL be incentivised from January 2011 with the confirmation of the key £5k grant. Transport secretary Philip Hammond has just given the OK to the government grant at SMMT HQ in London. ‘Great news for industry,’ said the SMMT’s Paul Everitt, ‘and a significant commitment by the new government to create UK [...]

UK motorists will play a key role in the electric car future as makers say our market has the most potential in Europe. Various Government incentives have already created a fertile environment for electric cars, and the benefits of this are starting to hit our roads. ‘The UK electric car market is going to drive [...]

THE results of our Car Dealer Power survey are out – and there are some shock winners and losers! Nissan swooped to victory and was named the Car Dealer Power winner after top scoring with an incredible 91 per cent. The marque scored six Faultless averages and two Excellents in our survey that aimed to [...]