Nissan to launch 7 models in Africa to focus on high-growth

Nissan Motor looks forward to launching seven new models in Africa during the next two years, company executives stated on Monday, as the Japanese automaker seeks to focus on high-growth markets to attempt to weather the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

The company declared a plan last month to slash the number of models it makes worldwide and improve efficiency following the increase of coronavirus pandemic which triggered its first annual loss in 11 years.

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

It prepares to make Africa a hub for light commercial vehicles (LCV), which will increase the production of its popular Navara pick-ups and open plants in Ghana and Kenya, Izumi stated.

He did not reveal details of the investment and levels of production for the location, although Nissan stated last year it would spend 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,” said Guillaume Cartier, Chairman for Nissan’s Africa, Middle East, and India (AMI) region, in a media call.