WHAT was closed last week was the manufacturing aspect of Almera, not Nissan. Almera is a Nissan model that hasn’t really connected well during its ill-fated, eight-year joust with our highly discerning car buffs. Here’s Nissan’s statement on the assembly stoppage of Almera in March, first articulated by Inquirer’s Tessa R. Salazar:
“As this manufacturing plant is owned and operated by UMPI [Univation Motor Philippines Inc.], we were informed that UMPI is only ceasing its production of Nissan Almera in the country. UMPI will remain active in the Philippines and continue its other business operations in the country…With 133 workers affected…UMPI is properly communicating the EOP [End of Production] implementation with its employees, as well as coordinating with various government stakeholders. UMPI is also preparing the compensation package for affected employees.”
So there. Fair enough insofar as the employees are concerned.
For its part, Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI) said its 48 dealerships nationwide remain in full operation while revealing that it “plans to open up to six more dealerships this year.”
So there you go again.
One model is being shuttered and yet close to 10 dealerships are to be opened? Talk about positivity.
Said Nissan PI: “We are ensuring the sufficiency of not just the Nissan Almera units as well as our product lineup and spare parts’ availability to meet our customers’ demands. The Philippines also continues to be a key market for Nissan globally, and the company remains committed in providing our customers innovative products and excellent services through our dealerships nationwide…We are here to stay. The decision to halt the Nissan Almera production locally was decided between NPI and UMPI upon the expiration of the vehicle assembly contract between the two companies. The decision is aligned with Nissan’s plan towards optimized production and efficient business operations in the Asean region, as part of the Nissan NEXT transformation plan.”
Nissan further clarified that the NPI-UMPI contract originally expired in March 2019, “but both companies agreed to an extension.”
Bottom line? There was a courageous effort to push the Almera some more but then, all went for naught with the onslaught of the pandemic in 2020, triggering cutthroat competition.
Let’s all wish Nissan well as it navigates its way back into the realm of operations. A successful fightback would not only mean success for Nissan but more so for the beleaguered industry as well.
One hurting finger pains the whole.
Meanwhile, here’s more forecasts for 2021 from our persons of substance:
Ma. Cristina ‘Tini’ Arevalo
Toyota Motor PHL First VP, New Mobility Business
“If there was anything positive that came out of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is the renewed relationships with family. The prolonged quarantine period and cautious movement of people allowed for families to spend more quality time together.
“Because of the year-long travel restrictions, I think most Filipinos would love the opportunity to go places again, at least within the country.
“Therefore, I see good, but gradual recovery of the Philippine auto industry. There will be more demand for vehicles as people gain more confidence to move around; having learned more on how to protect themselves from Covid-19 and the prospect of being able to get vaccines by mid-year.
“The 2022 national elections will also contribute to this upward push.
“Likewise, the opening of new roads and infrastructure, such as the Skyway 3, provides renewed vigor for motorists to enjoy the use of their vehicles.
“Lastly, it is possible to see new auto financing products and other mobility platforms that would enable more customers to experience the joy of driving cars.”
Rommel Sytin
President, Foton
“For Foton, we expect economy to be slowly regaining momentum better than 2020 with the vaccine arriving soon.
“But we’re still cautious with our forecast because consumer retail business and tourism will have a hard time recovering most of the tourism sector implementing strict health protocols that discourage people from visiting local tourist areas.
“Maybe a 10-20-percent improvement from 2020, depending on the economic recovery program of the government.”
Atty. Louie Soriano
General Manager for Sales, Honda
“As the whole nation bounces back, we were initially looking forward to 2021 as a year of hope for the automotive industry. However, with the recent pronouncement by the government on the implementation of provisional safeguard duties levied on car imports, this, in itself, will make it even more difficult and harder for the industry to recover.”
PEE STOP Mayor Ramon Preza recently received the 25 Isuzu Traviz trucks his town of Tiaong, Quezon, had purchased for use mainly of barangay operations. The vehicles are fitted with emergency response mechanisms suited for quick action especially amid the pandemic scourge. The vehicle delivery was led by Isuzu officials Roland Isaac Torres, Mario Ojales, Marcial Tolentino and Marcel Joseph Tolentino, with Isuzu bigwig Joseph Bautista as head of the IPC delegation. Cheers!
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