Nissan Power 88 business plan

[Eikon]

http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/NEWS/20 ... -01-e.html

"NISSAN POWER 88" MIDTERM BUSINESS PLAN ANNOUNCED
Plan emphasizes brand and sales power enhancement, growth,
sustainable mobility and mobility for all

YOKOHAMA, June 27, 2011 - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced a wide-ranging, six-year business plan that will accelerate the company's growth across new markets and segments. The plan for fiscal years 2011 to 2016, called "Nissan Power 88," is effective immediately.

The name of the plan emphasizes key corporate goals: Nissan will renew its focus on the overall customer experience through actions that elevate its brands' power and sales power. By the end of fiscal 2016, the company will aim to achieve a global market share of 8% and increase its corporate operating profit to a sustainable 8%.

Highlights of Nissan Power 88 reflect Nissan's clear, global vision and strategic direction through fiscal 2016:

Nissan's extended new product plan will deliver, on average, an all-new vehicle every six weeks for six years. The company's global portfolio will have 66 vehicles and will cover 92% of all markets and segments.
The emphasis on sustainable mobility will continue, encompassing zero-emission vehicles and low-emission technologies that support PURE DRIVE. Cumulative electric vehicle sales for the Renault-Nissan Alliance will reach 1.5 million units.
"Mobility for all" will expand with dedicated new cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) developed for entry-level segments and emerging markets.
Nissan will introduce more than 90 new, advanced technologies, averaging 15 per year.

"Nissan Power 88 is the roadmap for our company's profitable growth," said Nissan President and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn. "We will accelerate our growth, bringing more innovation and excitement to our products and services as well as cleaner, more affordable cars for everyone around the world, in line with the energy and environmental challenges of the 21st century."

Nissan will increase investments in its brands and retail networks to enhance its customers' entire ownership experience. Nissan currently has 6,000 major points of sales globally; the retail network will expand to 7,500 in the midterm plan period.

Business expansion will focus on growth markets and further developing the company's Infiniti and light commercial businesses.

In 2012, Nissan will have a production capacity of 1.2 million units in China. China has become - and will continue to be - Nissan's largest single global market. Nissan aims for a 10% share of the Chinese market. Nissan will also increase its presence in Brazil, Russia and India, as well as in the next wave of emerging markets.
In Brazil, Nissan will build a new plant, with a capacity of 200,000 units as a first step.
Nissan NV200's selection as New York City's "Taxi of Tomorrow" illustrates the company's momentum in the LCV field. By 2016, Nissan will be the world's leading light commercial vehicle manufacturer.
The Infiniti premium brand will grow from its 2010 sales level of 150,000 vehicles to 10% of global market share among luxury brand segments, a level today that would represent 500,000 vehicles.1 Infiniti will be present in more than 70 markets with a product range of at least 10 vehicles.

"Nissan Power 88 is a demanding business plan, but our company has a proven track record of achieving challenging objectives," said Mr. Ghosn.

About Nissan
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 248,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4.1 million vehicles in 2010, generating revenue of 8.77 trillion yen ($102.37 billion US). With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of 64 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero-emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades, including the prestigious 2011 European Car of the Year award and 2011 World Car of the Year.

[Ace2cool]

......So at least the Chinese have good taste in vehicles, since they're Nissan's #1 market.

[Jesda]

Apparently no one learned from GM. Nissan is spewing buzzwords and pipe dreams to keep shareholders happy.

From AE:
"Nissan: The Leaf won’t save the company (shocker), but an all-new vehicle every six weeks for six years with their new "Power 88" plan?" What are you smokin', Carlos?"

[nissangirl74]

Nissan's extended new product plan will deliver, on average, an all-new vehicle every six weeks for six years. The company's global portfolio will have 66 vehicles and will cover 92% of all markets and segments.

How much you wanna bet that they still won't offer a RWD coupe with a manual transmission?

[Jesda]

Nissan's extended new product plan will deliver, on average, an all-new vehicle every six weeks for six years. The company's global portfolio will have 66 vehicles and will cover 92% of all markets and segments.

How much you wanna bet that they still won't offer a RWD coupe with a manual transmission?

You would think that in their mindless pursuit of obscure niches, they'd fart out at least one light weight rear-drive car. No, those engineering resources went to the god damned Murano convertible. Oh pardon me, "Cross Cabriolet"

Grrr.

Instead of focusing on making their mediocre mass-market cars more competitive, they're chasing shadows by trying to reinvent the wheel by building vehicles no one wants and no one's asked for. The Versa had more money than Scrooge McDuck thrown behind its Asian marketing campaign. The Versa's inadequate durability for Asian markets and poor initial quality rendered it a flop, with GM and VW selling the majority of small and midsize cars in China and SE Asia.

Toyota, Honda, and Nissan aren't even among China's top 10 sellers anymore. [Toyota continues to sell a boatload of pickups, and the Nissan Frontier is reasonable successful.]

[nissangirl74]

The only thing RWD they have left is the Z and the G and neither of those are in 75% of the American population's price range. There's a reason people are still looking for clean 240sx(s). They are the last example of how great and affordable Nissan could be.

[dre1507]

Oh Nissan. Why are you aiming to be the next GM by pushing out a boat load of cars that no one wants? Bex, i agree with you on the 240sx comment. I really think Nissan died in North America about a decade ago.

Well, in general, automakers of today no longer feel the need to ask consumers what we'd like to see in a vehicle. They just chalk up some boredom and try to feed it to us. I laugh at my friends who think i'm crazy for liking older cars. While they're carrying out about how they don't want to drive anything older than 2007, in my mind i'm saying "yea, my car's old, but you just bought a bucket of boring."

[Razi]

You would think that in their mindless pursuit of obscure niches, they'd fart out at least one light weight rear-drive car. No, those engineering resources went to the god damned Murano convertible. Oh pardon me, "Cross Cabriolet"

And this makes me sad.

[Jesda]

They just chalk up some boredom and try to feed it to us. I laugh at my friends who think i'm crazy for liking older cars.

And thats exactly what killed GM. Instead of focusing on making on their core offerings the best in the world, they paid analysts to chase after niches and spew out the Pontiac Aztek.

The Aztek was a product of business analysts running numbers and making predictions about BS trends that never materialized. Designers at GM were relegated to carrying out the demands of managers who put their faith in uninspired analysts. Analysts were known to "adjust" the statistics to convince managers to move forward on their favorite ideas.


The Cross Cabrio is the Aztek of 2011.


As time goes on, Nissan seems more and more disconnected from the joy of motoring.

[nissangirl74]

As time goes on, Nissan seems more and more disconnected from the joy of motoring.

My two favorite cars to drive are the Z and the Roadster. 39 and 44 1/2 years old, respectively. Nissan needs to take a walk back in time and re-visit all of the successes they had during the late 60s and 70s. Then, they need to find another Mr. K to take charge and make good things happen.

[dre1507]

Lol at the Aztek. i remember the first time i saw one....an immediate feeling of disgust ran through my body. And yes, Jesda, Nissan seems to have lost their understanding of the joy that driving a car once provided.

[Eikon]

Apparently no one learned from GM. Nissan is spewing buzzwords and pipe dreams to keep shareholders happy.

From AE:
"Nissan: The Leaf won’t save the company (shocker), but an all-new vehicle every six weeks for six years with their new "Power 88" plan?" What are you smokin', Carlos?"

My guess is that every time they roll out a new platform in a new region they can call it an "all-new vehicle". They might even take the hybrid variety of each product and call that an all-new platform.

Still, I like that Nissan has set some aggressive goals. I just hope all the new vehicles and innovation don't come at the expense of quality like Toyota has shown us in recent years.

[Jesda]

Still, I like that Nissan has set some aggressive goals.

Which seem to exclude quality and satisfaction as any part of the bigger picture. :|


GM once had its executives wear lapel pins that said "29" emphasizing its plan to restore market share to 29%. This big plan didn't mention anything about long-term profitability or quality improvement.



I can see Ghosn (here onward referred to as "Goon") and his cohorts wearing "Power88" pins.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Here's my power 88 plan:
Make better cars, and turn the freaking dealership network around. Its ranked dead last FFS.

[Encryptshun]

There's a reason people are still looking for clean 240sx(s). They are the last example of how great and affordable Nissan could be.

I agree with you in sprit, Becky, but honestly the 240SX wasn't considered either great or affordable at the time it was produced. It was an underpowered, overpriced two-door marketed to secretaries or yuppies who needed a sunroof or a ragtop for their teased-up hair to stick up through. With 1993 MSRPs ranging from $16K for the base 5-speed to almost $23K for the 'vert, that's not cheap for the time.

[Dittoz7]

O..M..G

S16
S16
S16
S16
S16
S16

[dre1507]

lol, mandough........i don't agree.....i imagine we'll see the leaf's SUV completion, the Tree.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

lol, mandough........i don't agree.....i imagine we'll see the leaf's SUV completion, the Tree.

Followed by the bicycle/scooter variant... the root.

[nissangirl74]

There's a reason people are still looking for clean 240sx(s). They are the last example of how great and affordable Nissan could be.

I agree with you in sprit, Becky, but honestly the 240SX wasn't considered either great or affordable at the time it was produced. It was an underpowered, overpriced two-door marketed to secretaries or yuppies who needed a sunroof or a ragtop for their teased-up hair to stick up through. With 1993 MSRPs ranging from $16K for the base 5-speed to almost $23K for the 'vert, that's not cheap for the time.

Like almost everything else, they became much more valuable long after production ceased. Let's just say that Nissan hasn't offered an affordable RWD coupe in a long time and it doesn't look like there is one on the horizon either. Of course, the term 'affordable' is relative as well. Some people probably think the Z and the G are affordable. Me, not so much.

In 2013 they should release a 45th Anniversary Edition of the Dime. :drool

[Jesda]

What's also baffling is that a bureaucratic heap like General Motors was still able to produce lightweight sports cars like the Solstice, Solstice coupe, and Sky.

I imagine Nissan's iteration being lighter with extra zing, should it ever happen. More zing, please.

[Bubba1]

I like that Nissan has set some aggressive goals. I just hope all the new vehicles and innovation don't come at the expense of quality like Toyota has shown us in recent years.

I agree. They also need to remember WHY their vehicles were so popular, as brand loyalty alone carries you only so far. Gotta give the public a better reason to be a repeat buyer, and converting everything to CVT ain't it.

VW has a similarly ambitious plan for world domination. Unfortunately they've also completely forgotten why Americans bought their cars in the past, so I don't see them achieving their sales goals either..

At one time VW's were simple, well made, reliable, and could be fixed by anyone. Now they're complex and annoyingly engineered to make you a slave to the dealer for all maintenance. That is the primary reason I no longer own any VW's.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I don't want talk, I want superior product. Shut your yap and deliver. I don't give a damn until I drive it. I'm a Ford guy now. I DARE Nissan to convert me back.

[nissangirl74]

I don't want talk, I want superior product. Shut your yap and deliver. I don't give a damn until I drive it. I'm a Ford guy now. I DARE Nissan to convert me back.

I know that feeling. I had said for a while that after I graduated from Nursing School I was going to save up my money from that first year of work and by myself an M as a graduation present to myself for all my hard work. I'm really leaning toward a CTS-V wagon instead.

[Bubba1]

There's a reason people are still looking for clean 240sx(s). They are the last example of how great and affordable Nissan could be.

I agree with you in sprit, Becky, but honestly the 240SX wasn't considered either great or affordable at the time it was produced. It was an underpowered, overpriced two-door marketed to secretaries or yuppies who needed a sunroof or a ragtop for their teased-up hair to stick up through. With 1993 MSRPs ranging from $16K for the base 5-speed to almost $23K for the 'vert, that's not cheap for the time.

Disagree. 240SX's were not considered overpriced or grossly underpowered when they first came out. They were actually about average for the 4 cyl sporty coupe market at the time, and were considered reasonably priced given how well they were equipped. People forget how crowded the sporty coupe market was back in 1989. the 240 was no more anemic than a Porsche 924, Honda Prelude, or Toyota Celica of the same year. I know this well because I bought a new loaded S13 in 1989, and paid only $15K for it.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I know this well because I bought a new loaded S13 in 1989, and paid only $15K for it.

Considering that my parents paid $17k for a brand new Maxima in 1993, I'd say $15k was pretty damn steep for a small coupe. That'd be like paying $30-$35k for one today, which is a good 50% higher than the ideal pricepoint. The G20 didn't sell well because it was priced right in that same range as well, at it was luxury-branded.

I'd agree that the 240sx was priced high for what it offered when new.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

^the public agreed in 97 and 98, buying less than 10,000 240s IIRC

[Bubba1]

Considering that my parents paid $17k for a brand new Maxima in 1993, I'd say $15k was pretty damn steep for a small coupe. That'd be like paying $30-$35k for one today, which is a good 50% higher than the ideal pricepoint. The G20 didn't sell well because it was priced right in that same range as well, at it was luxury-branded.

I'd agree that the 240sx was priced high for what it offered when new.

Comparing a Max to a 240sx is like apples vs oranges. If you priced out a brand new loaded 1989 240sx to it's 1989 competition, which I did, you'll discover that the 240SX was priced about mid pack. The MSRP of my heavily optioned S13 was in the mid $17's. A similarly equipped Celica GT-S was about the same. A similarly equipped Honda Predule SI MSRP was in the mid $18's. The Porsche 924 was even higher. Since the 240 was not a big seller, and there was a lotta competition, Nissan was willing to sell them cheaply. I got mine at just $400 over cost without much of a battle. Factor in that I owned it that 240sx for 14 years and 190K miles with very few problems, and it's safe to conclude I got a great deal at $15K

As info the 1989 240SX base MSRP was just $13,429. that was not considered outgrageous in 1989.
If you want to know which Nissan was considered pricey in that era, it was the 300ZX. whose base MSRP was more than double the 240sx. I'm not saying the Z was a bad car. It was a great car, but it was not a cheap car to buy new.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Comparing a Max to a 240sx is like apples vs oranges.

I didn't compare the cars. I pointed out the price difference between it and other cars for some perspective. Cars cost more today but the ranks remain. What was once a $20k car is now a $35-$40k car (just look at the Camry). So it logically follows that a $15k car then would translate to a ~$30k car today. Which means the 240sx in the 90s was priced where the Z car is today. Which means it was overpriced. The Z32 being too expensive is true, and goes right along with my point.

Use any other $20k-in-1993-dollars car you want. It's not a comparison of cars. It's an illustration of scale.

Cars like the Genesis Coupe and Mustang support my conclusion, too. Look at the MSRP. Scales right along with everything I've said.