Global car manufacturer Nissan on Monday, 29 June unveiled its four-year business plan for the Africa, Middle East and India regions (AMI). The AMI business plan is the group’s blue print in line with global trends on rationalization, prioritization and focus on bringing core models and technologies to a region that accounts for around 10% of the world’s automotive market.
AMI says it will capitalize on Nissan’s strongholds and dominance in the region that include growth in key markets and strong brand presence – thus maximizing synergies with alliance partners and leveraging an expansive and competitive manufacturing presence in South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and India.
“Africa, Middle East and India is an important region where we will target Investment in existing strengths, including SUV, and bring eight new products to the market. By bringing efficiencies through alliance and focusing on core competency, we will further increase the region’s profitability, especially in key markets including the Gulf, South Africa and Egypt,” said Ashwani Gupta, Nissan Chief Operating Officer.
Guillaume Cartier, chairman of the Africa, Middle East and India region, also had this to say: “Nissan has already established a strong foundation for sustainable growth with high brand equity, a deeply embedded heritage of Nissan DNA and culture and a long history of dedicated and experienced business partners in retail and manufacturing.”
“Throughout the mid-term, we will remain focused on driving value for the business by meeting the needs of our customers across the region.”
AMI will follow the global transformation strategy announced in May by Makoto Uchiba. The transformation strategy aims to achieve sustainable growth, financial stability and profitabiiity at the end of the 2023 fiscal year.
In line with Nissan’s global plan, the AMI strategy is developed around two strategic areas of ‘rationalization’ and ‘prioritization and focus’.
The rationalization elements encompassing actions to improve regional cost and efficiency include the optimization of regional product portfolio and further increase the cost competitiveness of local plants; seek and enhance export opportunities from AMI plants and the leveraging of additional opportunities to reduce fixed cost.
On the prioritize and focus element, the group will look at actions to build on key strengths in products, markets and technology – with emphasis on introducing eight new models, focus on segments to channel investment to most profitable products. The focus on regional priority will look at Sports utility vehicles (SUV) and affordable sedan models. On the marketing side the group will focus on existing strengths on major markets like GCC, Egypt and Saudi Arabia while also focusing on opportunities in both Africa and Turkey in Europe as potential good markets. The company will also launch local models in South Africa and India of Navara and B-SUV, respectively.
In technology AMI will look at increasing digitalization and enhancement of the customer experience and phased regional deployment of Nissan Intelligent Mobility including e-Power, EV and connected technologies.
All of AMI alliance global cooperation partners – Renault, Nissan Motor Corporation Limited and Mitsubishi will all work and support each other in the global stage in all elements of trading for competitive advantage over others in all regions.
“Today, AMI is a region with opportunity for significant growth. Over the next four years we will transform opportunity to reality by bringing the right products, services and technologies to deliver lasting positive change for the business, our partners and customers,” said Cartier.
