Nissan: We Have Cars!

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

With Honda and Toyota struggling to catch up after months of tsunami-related supply interruptions, Nissan’s been passing its major Japanese competitors in sales volume, and they apparently want to keep it that way. As Bertel has reported, Nissan was able to walk away from the tsunami’s devastation practically unharmed, and it’s leveraging its strong supply of vehicles to make hay while the sun shines (or while its competitors are struggling to catch up). This ad, which is a simple reminder to consumers, is only slightly tinged with competitive feist in a scene depicting a frustrated Honda customer. Overall though, there’s not much messaging needed: Nissan has cars, other Japanese competitors don’t. And right now, that could be one of the most effective marketing messages out there. After all, as Autoobserver points out, folks trading in Japanese cars still overwhelmingly buy another Japanese car… so simply having Japanese cars on dealer lots is a huge advantage at the moment.


Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Sitting@home Sitting@home on Aug 18, 2011

    Does anyone these days make a new car buying decision based solely on what is on a dealer's lot ? That sounds like a recipe for getting both ripped off and the wrong vehicle.

  • Sector 5 Sector 5 on Aug 18, 2011

    Shortage? I thought unzere borolla & civie came from Kanada? Plant tours in Smyma? Otto not good thing Nissan, folks will see car & mighty SUV stamped from 'spindly,' roll of carpet steel.

  • Scoutdude Scoutdude on Aug 18, 2011

    Funny thing when I was out on the road today I saw a car carrier up ahead and the vehicle on the rear of the top deck was a Pathfinder. Then I got up closer and what were the other cars? Not a single other Nissan but there were a bunch of Toyotas and some Mazdas. Later on as I was going to lunch what do I see but a 3 car carrier pulling into the Mitsubishi dealer, all were Mitsus. If you think that one is a low blow you should see the TV and radio adds running around here. It does focus on the model year close out and pimping Altima leases and $3K off of Maximas, but they clearly say with better availability than Honda or Nissan. The one above isn't as bad as they only say that they are running at 100% unlike "some" others. Of course there is the small print stating they are referring to Honda and Toyota and the sighing salesman with the H and A behind him. Personally I have no problem with the ads. For the one posted above, lots of non-car type people don't really know that all mfgs weren't about equally affected. In the local one however they don't say that they are running at 100% so you could also easily interpret it to mean "Hey our lots are over stocked because every one wants a Toyota or Honda and not ours so we've giving them away".

  • Praxis Praxis on Aug 18, 2011

    Here's the actual inventory situation, as of this week: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904253204576512561127443314.html

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