(AFP Photo)
By Mohamed Abo El-Fotouh
Nissan Motors is preparing to introduce a new, locally manufactured car to the Egyptian market over the next six months.
Christian Mardrus, Senior VP of Africa, Middle East & India Region at Nissan Motor, told Daily News Egypt the company produces six different types of cars for the Egyptian market. They include the most sold car, Nissan Sunny, and two other award-winning cars, the Nissan Juke and Nissan Qashqai.
Mardrus added that the company aims to expand its network of authorised distributors from the current 35 to 36 distributors by the end of 2015.
Nissan’s investments in Egypt amount to approximately $100m, and is considered one of the leading producers and traders of vehicles in Egypt, and one of the biggest Japanese investors in the market, Mardrus said. He also added that Nissan is the largest automotive manufacturer in Egypt specifically.
Nissan Motors Egypt was established in 2005, with investments of about $66m which increased over the last 10 years to reach $100m.
Mardrus said that Nissan outperformed competing Japanese companies in Egypt in 2014, in both production size and sales percentage. He added that the Egyptian market is one of the greatest expanding markets in North Africa for Nissan, and the company has achieved sales of more than 29,000 cars in 2014, with an 8.3% growth from 2013. He also said that Nissan aims to achieving the same percentage during 2015.
The company’s accumulated local production at the beginning of 2014 was approximately 100,000 cars. Nissan Motors Egypt enhanced the production density of its plant in the 6th of October City, to be able to work continuously, 24 hours a day, over three different shifts per day to meet the increasing market needs.
Mardrus explained that Nissan depends on a large number of Egyptian workers, and is now directly providing 1,300 job opportunities in the automotive industry field. The company is also indirectly providing another 3,000 job opportunities, by cooperating with suppliers and authorised distributors.
He then mentioned that Nissan’s office in Egypt has become the regional headquarters for North Africa, including Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Sudan.
The regional headquarters will work on implementing the necessary strategy for marketing Nissan’s high quality products in the region, as well as manage the company’s business in it.
Mardrus also added that Nissan understands that Africa will witness remarkable growth rates in the future, which will enable it to be a key controller in the international market’s growth rates. He added that a part of Nissan’s medium term plan “Power 88” is to continue its production operations in African and the Middle East. This will enhance the production capacity and meet the rising demand of the emerging markets. He anticipated that millions of people will purchase their first cars in the next few years.
Nissan started its business in Egypt in 1997 through a local private company, and in 2004 it established its plant in the industrial area in the 6th of October City. It then renewed and expanded its plant, until it was able to proceed with local manufacturing in 2005. This has helped increase its sales and strengthen the marketing and distribution of its products in Egypt.
Nissan is celebrating 10 years of providing excellent products and services to its customers in Egypt, Mardrus said, adding: “I am proud to be among Nissan’s team that helped and is still helping in pumping investments in to the Egyptian market.”
He said the company’s strategy targets a positive impact on the Egyptian economy as a whole, which is why they are keen to be present in an effective and influential manner to reach a privileged position in the Egyptian automotive market. This will strengthen the chance for Nissan’s permanent investment in Egypt.
Nissan Motors Global Company recently celebrated 10 years since the opening of their plant in Egypt, in a celebration at the Baron Palace in Heliopolis. The event was attended by Ahmed Fikry Abdel Wahab, General Manager & CEO at FAW Group Corporation and Alaa Abd Elkareem, chairman of Egypt’s the General Organization for Import and Export Control. The event was also attended by Ismail Gaber, Chairman of Industrial Development Authority (IDA) as well as Elsayed Aboul-Komsan, First Under-Secretary for Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade and a group of investors and Nissan’s distributors.
