COLOGNE -- Nissans German dealers have criticized the Japanese carmakers decision not to sell the Tiida lower-medium car in Europes largest market.
The Tiida could help struggling sales partners to stay in business, the German dealers say.
In a letter to Rainer Landwehr, the head of Nissans sales zone for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, dealer spokesman Peter Gerards said the Tiida was promised to German dealers.
Gerards said German dealers have budgeted the Tiida for 10 percent to 15 percent of their planned 2007 revenues and some dealers could collapse unless they are able to sell the car.
Nissan will offer the Tiida only in European markets where sales of the now-discontinued Almera and Primera cars were strong. The carmaker aims to sell 30,000 Tiidas annually in Europe starting in 2008. It expects most of those sales mainly to come from Russia and central and eastern European markets.
The Tiida will be priced between the Note small minivan and Qashqai lower-medium/SUV crossover, Nissan said.
Long wait for Qashqai
Gerards said Nissan dealers are being hit because of the six-month wait for the Qashqai, which was launched in February.
The Qashqai and the Tiida were supposed to offset sharp declines in sales of the Micra small car and the Note, which accounted for one-third of Nissan sales in Germany last year, Gerards said.
Nissan said it may study the possibility of launching the Tiida in other European markets in the future. In western Europe, it is concentrating on winning conquest sales with the new Qashqai.
Nissan began loading its first shipment of Tiida sedans for Europe at its factory in Cuernavaca, Mexico, on April 19.
The company will export 12,000 Tiidas to Europe this year.
You may e-mail Wolf R. Ussler at wussler@craincom.de
