Nissan Can't Keep Up With Russian Demand

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Did we say that the Russian market is on the rebound with a vengeance? Nissan agrees. Nissan will raise its Russian auto sales target for fiscal 2010 to 100,000 units, up 120 percent from last fiscal year, COO Toshiyuki Shiga told The Nikkei [sub] today. Nissan’s SUVs are selling so briskly that Nissan has trouble keeping up with the demand.

Their plant in St. Petersburg plant is operating at full capacity. Nissan will most likely add a third shift and expand the plant capacity.

The rising Yen is troubling Nissan just like it troubles the other exporters. Nissan will begin production of its Murano SUV in Russia next year.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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 3 comments
  • Pete Zaitcev Pete Zaitcev on Aug 26, 2010

    Keep in mind that they sell all the good stuff in Russia of which America is deprived: Xtrail, Patrol, a bunch of econohatchwagons and microvans.

  • Slavuta Slavuta on Aug 26, 2010

    If American Murano looked as good as Russian it would sell better.

    • M0L0TOV M0L0TOV on Aug 27, 2010

      Call me crazy but isn't that the Euro only diesel version? Ours looks a bit different because the Euro bumper includes more openings to cool off the oil burner. Since we don't have an oil burner the bumper does look different.

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