NISSAN is confident of becoming a major force in the light commercials market worldwide thanks to an aggressive new product plan that promises three new models every year from 2011 to 2013.
It starts next week when the Japanese company launches a new passenger version of its NV200 at the Hanover show, as well as displaying zero-emission battery technology to be used on its future all-electric van.
Other highlights at the show include the arrival of advanced technology pioneered in Nissan vehicles and which are designed to make life easier and safer for the LCV driver and passengers.
The manufacturer is also planning the world reveal of a new range of vehicles which, it says, will take the brand into significant new areas of the LCV market.
“Nissan is deadly serious about becoming a major player in the commercial vehicle world. Despite the current economic crisis we are already selling more than 500,000 units globally,” said Nissan’s Gilles Normand.
“But by the middle of the decade we aim to be producing more than 1 million units annually, and by the end of 2012 we expect to be selling commercial vehicles in over 90 per cent of the world’s markets.”
The growth will be fed by nine new models over the next three years, including the first fruits of a major joint venture in India while Nissan is also on the brink of entering the North American market with its new NV van series.
The new version of the NV200, called EVALIA, is a fully equipped people carrier capable of carrying seven passengers and their luggage and completes the NV200 series, which now includes a van, a combi version and a people carrier.
Other NV200 news includes the arrival of a more powerful diesel engine, developing 110hp, as well as two new conversions – a refrigerated box van and a version for wheelchair passengers.