Category Archives: Nissan

Nissan to temporarily halt production

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Posted in Nissan

Nissan has stopped production at four of its five Japanese auto plants, because of a delay in critical parts delivered from a third party. The stoppage of production could result in fewer cars for sale in the Japanese market.

Japanese manufacturer Hitachi said that its engine control unit, an important component of car engines, would be delayed. Although Hitachi supplies other Japanese manufacturers, Nissan is the most affected – 90 percent of Hitachi’s production line was to go to Nissan, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Hitachi likewise blamed the problem on a supplier of integrated circuits, part of the ECU. “The supply of a specific IC chip suddenly declined this month, and the supplier has yet to tell us why exactly this is happening,” managing director Yasuhiko Honda said at a joint press conference with Nissan.

Nissan has not yet ascertained the potential financial impact of the delay, but expects that it will produce 15,000 fewer cars as a result. Hitachi has said that it is working with the supplier to obtain a shipment for late July or August so that production may continue.

Nissan plans hybrid move

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Nissan

Nissan has announced that it will debut its own hybrid system, over a decade after competitors have already been selling the vehicles.

The Japanese automaker may be late to the hybrid game, but the company says that its patience has paid off in the form of more effective hybrid technology. According to Reuters, Nissan’s in-house developed system features a single electric motor that detaches from the gasoline engine when fully charged, allowing travel on purely electric power. In addition, its battery is made of lithium-ion, a lighter and more efficient option than the nickel used in vehicles like the Toyota Prius.

Nissan will debut the features on its upcoming Infiniti M hybrid. A spokesman for the automaker says that the car will get at least 60 to 90 percent better fuel economy, and hopes to double its EPA-estimated mileage per gallon. The company also plans to begin selling its all-electric Leaf model in December.

Although lithium-ion is lightweight, it is also more expensive than its nickel-metal counterparts. Those who want a more affordable hybrid vehicle may want to search for a used Toyota Prius.

Japanese automakers see increased demand in Asian, American markets

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Honda - DO NOT USE, Mazda - DO NOT USE, Mitsubishi - DO NOT USE, Nissan, Toyota

Increased demand from car buyers led Japanese automakers to ramp up production in May, a sign that consumer confidence is returning. If the economic turnaround has drivers thinking about spending the money to buy a new car, they would do well to look at the used car market in order to find deals as the economy recovers.

All five of the major Japanese automakers reported an increase in production in May as opposed to last year. According to the Associated Press, Toyota produced the most units, at 637,675, although it also grew the least as compared to last year with a 27 percent increase.

Conversely, Mitsubishi posted an 85.8 percent increase as compared to last year, but also produced the fewest amount of cars, with 83,418. Honda, Nissan, and Mazda all saw growth of around 45 percent.

The automakers all agreed that an increase in demand, especially in the American and Asian markets, led to the surge in production.

This trend has also continued around the world, with Mercedes-Benz and BMW recently reporting that they were increasing production to respond to consumer’s increased confidence.

Nissan launches parts loyalty program

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Posted in General Auto News, Nissan

One consideration when buying a used car is maintenance. While the savings that can be found on used cars is substantial, the fact is that the mileage of these cars may eventually lead to a problem.

Those who buy a certified pre-owned car may be covered by the dealer’s original warranty, another great reason to buy a used car. However, these cars are not always possible to find, and drivers may find themselves at an independent repair shop.

But those who bought a used Nissan now have the option to use Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts when repairing their vehicles, thanks to a new parts reward program that Nissan and Infiniti are offering to independent mechanics.

Under the new program, mechanics will be able to sign up and be awarded points in a variety of ways. These points can then be exchanged for free parts. The new program is designed to encourage independent repair shops to use certified Nissan parts rather than aftermarket parts. In this way, the car runs as closely to the original specifications as possible.

Those who buy a used Nissan may be comforted to know that local repair shops will carry OEM parts through this new program.

The cars women love

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Posted in General Auto News, Honda - DO NOT USE, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen - DO NOT USE

Although making up over 50 percent of the US population, women only account for 36% of new car sales. A recent study by TrueCar.com revealed what women are looking for when they buy a car.

The answer appears to be a mix of style, fuel efficiency, affordability and space, according to the Los Angeles Times. Although the top seller for women was the Volkswagen Beetle, small crossovers led the way in the rest of the study – the Nissan Rogue, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, for example.

Stereotypically, cars are still thought of as a “male” interest, and in many ways they are, especially among exotic car buyers. The study put most pickup truck purchasers at over 80 percent male, and brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini rise to around 95 percent male, with Bugatti actually at 100 percent.

The study looked at the registrations of over 13 million new US vehicles to determine the statistics. Other popular models among women included the Nissan Sentra and Volvo S40. The top female brand was Kia with 45.8 percent, followed closely by Suzuki and Mini, clearly illustrating the desire for affordable vehicles.

Women who want to save on their vehicle purchase should look on the used market. Late-mode used Nissan models like the Rogue, for example, can be found at a steep discount off the manufacturer’s sticker price.

SUVs at a crossroads

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Posted in Ford, General Auto News, Nissan, Toyota

With sales dwindling and crossovers becoming increasingly popular, the traditional sports utility vehicle is facing an uncertain future, but fans of the vehicles can find deals on older models by shopping on the used car market.

According to MSN Auto, the traditional SUV has struggled amid worries about fuel economy and a shrinking customer base. In addition, crossover vehicles – smaller models based on passenger car platforms, are usurping SUV’s spot as the most popular seller.

That doesn’t mean automakers are abandoning the SUV, however. Ford recently redesigned its flagship SUV, the Explorer, to address concerns about fuel economy. The new Explorer gets 25 mpg and runs on a modified car body, but its exterior is all-truck.

Traditional SUV fans may also want to look at models like the Toyota 4Runner and Nissan Pathfinder.

Utility sales (crossovers and SUVS) currently account for 28 percent of the total car market, but crossovers make up 77 percent of that.

However, there was a time when SUVs dominated the landscape, and for memories of that, drivers should look no further than the used car market.

Drivers who want the traditional off-roading capabilities along with the extra space should shop the used car dealers for the classic models of just a few years ago. While these cars once fetched a high price, their dwindling popularity has caused many used car dealers to offer significant savings.

Nissan surpasses Leaf sales expectations in Japan

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Nissan

The auto industry is eagerly anticipating the debut of the first electric vehicles in the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt. The future of electric cars may hinge on the reception of them by the public. One important statistic is the number of early adopters who commit to the product.

If Nissan’s sales in Japan are any indication, electric vehicles have a long and bright future. Nissan, the third-largest Japanese automaker behind Honda and Toyota, recently released the preliminary sales figures on the new Leaf model.

According to the report, Nissan has already received 6,000 preorders, which was its target for total sales of the vehicles in the first year. The company began taking pre-orders on April 1, but the car isn’t due to hit showrooms until December.

Last month, Nissan revealed that the U.S. and Japan had combined to order 13,000 units, suggesting that the car will be popular in the U.S. as well.

Until electric vehicles are widely adopted, those who want to go green when they drive should consider looking at hybrids like the Toyota Prius on the used car market.

Deals on used Nissans can be found after company’s quick turnaround

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Posted in Nissan

Those looking to buy a used Nissan should be able to find great deals, as the company is planning to introduce three new models into their lineup. When a new model is introduced, the remaining older models are often sold to used car dealers at a steep discount, allowing those savings to be passed on to the consumer.

After posting a loss last year, the company is on track for a turnaround, according to BusinessWeek. Nissan’s SUVs have been quite successful, and the company hopes to add to that with a redesigned Murano and Titan later this year.

The company has also experienced strong sales figures for the highly-anticipated electric Nissan Leaf, according to early reports.

As a reward for the company’s new growth, Nissan announced plans to pay twelve of its top executives some hefty bonuses. In fact, the executives’ salaries will be four times those of Toyota and three times those of Honda, its chief Japanese rivals.

When a company redesigns a vehicle, its possible to find the lightly-used older models at used car lots on the cheap.

Searching for efficiency with the midsize crossover

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Posted in Chevrolet, Ford, Honda - DO NOT USE, Nissan, Toyota

SUVs are a handy way to transport cars full of kids or luggage quickly and easily. For those who don’t need off-roading capabilities, a midsize crossover is the perfect fit.

When purchasing an SUV, one important consideration is fuel economy. SUVs have a reputation for being gas guzzlers, but new technology and the smaller size of crossovers has improved efficiency, according to Edmunds.

In this class, the Ford Edge and Honda Crosstour lead the way with 18 city/27 highway miles per gallon. City drivers may consider the Toyota Venza, which trades one mpg on the highway (26) for one in the city (19). The Nissan Murano gets 18 in the city with 23 on the highway, while the Chevy Equinox posts 17/25, although they are a bit roomier than the others. All of the cars feature 6-cylinder engines.

Car buyers should balance their desire for efficiency with their need for space and features. The Ford Edge has a slight, well, edge, over the competition, as it has just undergone a complete redesign for 2011, according to the Detroit Free Press.

With the new Ford Edges being introduced, drivers can search the used car market for any 2010 Edges that dealers were unable to sell. They can also find deals on all the cars mentioned above.

Big Three post big gains in May

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Chrysler - DO NOT USE, Ford, Nissan, Toyota

As a further sign that the economy is beginning to recover, Detroit’s Big Three automakers: GM, Chrysler, and Ford, all posted big gains in the month of May over the same time last year. With consumer confidence returning and Americans making car purchases that they may have held off on in the wake of the economic downturn, consumers should remember that they can purchase many of these cars for considerably less at used car dealerships or auctions.

Ford gained the most, with a 20 percent increase over previous years’ totals. Ford is in good shape, as the only one of the Big Three not to accept federal bailout money and thus not have to pay it off, according to the Washington Post

GM sales increased 16.6 percent, and Chrysler sold 100,000 vehicles for only the second time in two years.

Among Japanese automakers, Nissan jumped 24.1 percent while Toyota sales slowed amid recall problems.

Although the industry itself may still be recovering, the country is not yet out of the woods. Consumers who need to save money can look at these brands’ ample offerings on the used car market.