Heels & Horsepower Magazine

Locally-produced Nissan Navara takes off with all-time high sales

Renowned for its rugged redefined looks, robust capabilities, reliability, and versatility, the Navara is fast becoming one of the most respected models across the Nissan line-up. 

Nissan South Africa has recently announced sales figures for the all-new Navara, which launched in the SA market in July. In just four months, vehicle sales have surpassed the previous (full) year’s sales, positioning the Navara as one of the best-selling 2021 vehicles in the 1ton pickup category.

“The success of the new Navara is mainly owed to two things, its value proposition and the fact that is it produced right here at home – made with the South African consumer top of mind”, said Charl Timms, Sales & Operations Director at Nissan South Africa.”

Image: Cornel van Heerden

The new Nissan Navara offers customers good value for money, with low-running costs, competitive parts pricing, and a competitive fuel efficiency, strong aftersales services, all designed to help your business’s bottom line, while being rugged and tough enough to do the job right.

The vehicle comes with enhanced ride comfort, load-carrying capacity, and a powertrain selected specifically for the South African market.

Image: Cornel van Heerden

“Currently, Nissan has a market share of 13.4%, which positions us right up to our target,” said Charl Timms, Sales & Operations Director at Nissan South Africa.  In October, we completed the line-up with the launch of the Single Cab. Our customer base is very diverse, and this line-up is built to meet all their unique needs – whether it’s a workhorse for their business, family travels or off-road adventures,” Timms continued.

The Nissan Navara offers a reliable bakkie functionality with a premium drive and innovative safety features, which has contributed to its tremendous success.”

Photo by Cornel van Heerden

Nissan is projecting a steady growth in sales for the Navara range for the next six months, which has potential to significantly grow once the plant is in production at full capacity. 

“We are incredibly proud to have provided our South African consumers with a vehicle that that is built right here at home and will be part of the country’s legacy, but the premium quality of the vehicle also speaks for itself,” Timms concluded.

Nissan prepared for growing its manufacturing footprint in Africa

12 Ghanaian technicians have graduated from Nissan’s plant, and are ready to spearhead the launch of Nissan’s assembly plant in their own country.

12 Ghanaian technicians have graduated from Nissan’s plant, and are ready to spearhead the launch of Nissan’s assembly plant in their own country.

Over the last 12 weeks the graduates have learnt the finer points of how to assemble the Japanese automaker’s legendary Navara, which is currently being built in Africa at the Rosslyn plant in South Africa.  The new locally manufactured Navara is expected to start rolling off the assembly lines from the end of June 2021 and will be on sale across African markets in the months that follow.

The production of a vehicle is intricate, so the training course we have been offering will not be the end of our work in supporting the Ghanaian team’s capabilities

– Shafick Solomons, Plant Director

The comprehensive training programme course has equipped the trainees with the ability to assemble the new Nissan Navara as well as learn the principles of the Nissan Production Way.  This is to ensure that the numerous quality control measures are enforced and allow them to help train the next generation of Ghanaian engineers to assembly these vehicles in their home country.

“The production of a vehicle is intricate, so the training course we have been offering will not be the end of our work in supporting the Ghanaian team’s capabilities,” says Shafick Solomons, Plant Director

“It’s one of the many steps we are taking to support a sustainable relationship between South Africa and Ghana going forward. We will continue to share resources and knowledge, as well as training to make sure that the Ghanaian team is as agile and efficient as any team in the rest of the world all working towards and adhering to Nissan’s global production standard, the Nissan Production Way.”

The preparation for the Ghana Assembly plant follows Nissan’s ground-breaking Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Ghana that was signed during the initial stages of working towards the Ghana Automotive Development policy.

“This is a wonderful moment for us as a global company with incredible African roots,” says Mike Whitfield, Managing Director of Nissan. “We set out to build a vehicle in Africa for Africa by Africans with the Navara, which we are about to achieve from our Nissan South African plant.

“Now we are laying the groundwork to do just that in Ghana, as we help the people and government of Ghana begin to realise their dream of creating a Sustainable Automotive Industry in their country.

Nissan and Japan Motors support the Ghana Automotive Development Policy, which is why we want to do our part in creating jobs and stimulating African economies.

– Salem Kalmoni, Managing Director Japan Motors.  

“We have always said that we wanted to work with countries on the continent who want to partner with us in this regard. We were the first movers in Nigeria and we are looking at other countries in Africa where there is similar potential, which is both exciting and timely as we emerge from the economic ravages of the COVID 19 pandemic.”

The Navara production facility is in Accra, the capital of Ghana, and will be 100% Ghanaian operated by the Japan Motors Trading Company (JMTC), which invested US $3 million into its construction, following Ghana’s drafting of its automotive development policy to encourage investment in the sector.

“Nissan and Japan Motors support the Ghana Automotive Development Policy, which is why we want to do our part in creating jobs and stimulating African economies. We both want to create a new future for the sector, and change the lives of the people who build, test and drive these vehicles,” says Salem Kalmoni, Managing Director Japan Motors.  

Orders now open for the new Nissan Navara

Nissan new and exciting range of locally produced Navara models is priced competitively enough to suit just about everyone on the market for a bakkie.

Orders are now open for the new, locally-produced Nissan Navara, set to roll off of the production line at Nissan’s Rosslyn plant in June 2021. With prices starting at R311 000 for the Navara 2.5 Petrol XE SC, and R474 000 for the Navara 2.5D SE MT DC, the modernised line-up is well-positioned to compete in most of the 1ton pickup segments, according to Stefan Haasbroek, Marketing Director at Nissan South Africa. 

In the South African context, the Navara is renowned for its Rugged Redefined looks, robust capabilities, reliability, and versatility, making it one of the most respected and anticipated models across the Nissan line-up and around the world.

We are confident that the technical changes in the all-new Navara will deliver the ultimate customer experience

– Stefan Haasbroek, Marketing Director at Nissan South Africa

“With the introduction of the all-new Navara pickup in South Africa, we are confident that the significant technical changes implemented across our extensive line-up, will deliver the ultimate customer experience, with enhanced ride comfort, load carrying capacity, and a powertrain selected specifically for the South African market,” says Haasbroek.  

“It’s an amazing achievement to see the full set of exciting models for the next generation Navara which offer customers a choice of both single, and double-cab, 2WD and 4WD options, and a choice of automatic and manual transmissions too,” Haasbroek said. “This is a fiercely competitive segment, and we are determined to meet and exceed customer needs,” he added.

“This is a fiercely competitive segment, and we are determined to meet and exceed customer needs.

– STEFAN HAASBROEK, MARKETING DIRECTOR AT NISSAN SOUTH AFRICA
Tough 4X4 power for difficult terrain 

Choose 2WD for maximum efficiency, or shift to 4WD (4H) at speeds up to 100km/h with the Navara’s shift-on-the-fly 4×4 gearbox. Achieve maximum performance as Nissan’s 4H constantly monitors conditions and adjusts the balance of power between the front and rear axles to maintain traction, while the Active Brake Limited Slip Differential system (ABLS) manages power delivery and wheel braking between the front and rear axles and between the left and right of the vehicle, depending on traction and speed. New Navara drivers also have the option to select low range 4WD (4LO) for difficult terrain.

The Navara line-up also features additional safety technology through Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM),

– STEFAN HAASBROEK, MARKETING DIRECTOR AT NISSAN SOUTH AFRICA
Giving you a bigger and more balanced payload

And if that’s not enough space, and you need to bring the off-road bikes on a trailer too, then new Navara’s Trailer Sway Control (TSC) system, with yaw-rate-monitoring can detect the trailer’s self-oscillation, while the Vehicle Dynamic Control system (VDC) enables it to handle the brake pressure of the trailer to reduce self-oscillation.

A vehicle to delight and empower our customers

“The Navara line-up also features additional safety technology through Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM), and offers a host of cabin features including an 8” touch screen with NissanConnect, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay all to delight and empower our customers,” said Haasbroek.

With its bold masculine design, the new Nissan Navara offers customers good value-for-money, has low running costs, competitive parts pricing, and competitive fuel efficiency, strong aftersales service, all designed to help your business’s bottom line, while being rugged and tough enough to do the job right, minimising downtime, and maximising uptime.

Pricing for the 2021 Nissan Navara range is as follows: 

NAVARA 2WD – DOUBLE CAB  

2.5D SE 4X2 MT DC: R474,000

2.5D SE 4X2 AT DC R498,000

2.5D SE Plus 4X2 MT DC: R505,000

2.5D SE Plus 4X2 AT DC: 528,000

2.5D LE 4X2 AT DC: R606,000

2.5D PRO-2X 4X2 AT DC: 686,000

NAVARA 4WD – DOUBLE CAB  

2.5D SE 4X4 MT DC: R552,000

2.5D SE Plus 4X4 MT DC: R580,000

2.5D LE 4X4 MT DC: R660,000

2.5D LE 4X4 AT DC: R677,000

2.5D PRO-4X 4X4 AT DC: R740,000

NAVARA 2WD – SINGLE CAB  

2.5 Petrol XE 4X2 MT SC: R311,000

2.5D XE 4X2 MT SC: R350,000

2.5D SE 4X2 MT SC: R426,000

2.5D LE 4X2 MT SC: R456,000

NAVARA 4WD – SINGLE CAB

2.5D 4X4 SE MT SC: R492,000

2.5D 4X4 LE MT SC: R527,000

All models comes standard with a six-year/90,000km service plan and six-year/150,000km warranty.

The new Nissan Navara is coming

The soon to be launched Nissan Navara stays true to its DNA, offering customers not just a bakkie which gets you from A to B, but one that gives you convenience and ease with every memorable journey.

The soon to be launched Nissan Navara stays true to its DNA, offering customers not just a bakkie which gets you from A to B, but one that gives you convenience and ease with every memorable journey. The bakkie’s comfort features make it the ultimate travel and worksite partner, well-equipped to effortlessly take on new challenges at every turn.

As a result of the increased amounts of sound softening insulation, laminated windshield and front windows, the new Navara offers exceptional ride comfort and features improved quietness, further reducing the stress for both driver and passenger.

For the convenience of the driver, Nissan includes a new steering wheel with improved styling of the instrument panel highlighting the 8-inch navigation screen and a 7-inch higher resolution TFT screen making it easier for the driver to park with the auto folding door mirror and change lanes with confidence.  

To further prioritise both passengers and driver, the Navara contains spinal support in the driver seat which promotes ‘neutral’ posture to reduce pressure on the spine, and the rear seats are now even more comfortable, with upgrades to the seat cushions and back shapes. For added convenience, the rear seats are designed with rear armrest cup holders, rear air vents and USB port.

The Navara ushers in a new age of toughness and introduces a new ruggedly bold exterior made for extreme elements; however, one thing that we do not compromise on is the safety and interior comfort of our customers.

– Stefan Haasbroek, Nissan South Africa Marketing Director.

“The Navara ushers in a new age of toughness and introduces a new ruggedly bold exterior made for extreme elements; however, one thing that we do not compromise on is the safety and interior comfort of our customers. This bakkie is designed to give you exceptional comfort as your adventure travel and worksite partner, well-equipped to take on new challenges while still offering optimal room and quiet comfort that supports you on any road,” said Stefan Haasbroek, Nissan South Africa Marketing Director.

The ride comfort on rough roads at any loading condition is further improved thanks to the rain sensing wipers and suspension stroke control by the new dual rate spring. Adding to the vehicle’s stability and handling, Navara Double Cab has a heavy duty 5-link coil rear suspension (like an SUV) versus the usual pick-up leaf rear suspension.

The low friction coil offers noticeably superior ride comfort along with the first-class cabin feeling, inspired by the engine push start button, intelligent key and dual air-conditioning ensuring everyone inside feels the comfort of the Navara. To further ensure that no one feels left out, Navara includes multiple USB points, giving the driver and passengers a chance to take charge and select the music of their choice.

The all-new Nissan Navara will be available for sale in the second half of 2021.

WATCH the media presentation of the new Nissan Navara

The award-winning Navara is now ruggedly bolder and more exciting than its predecessor and is available with a host of new design and technological upgrades.

Renowned for its tough looks, robust capabilities; reliability and versatility, the new Navara, remains a reliable partner for everyday drives and is suited for motorists going on adventurous journeys or performing heavy duty, labour-intensive jobs.