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Bring the Nissan Micra to US !

3K views 11 replies 6 participants last post by  SlickVersa 
#1 · (Edited)
The Canadian version of the Nissan Micra could sell in the USA for around $9,000 starting price.

Is Nissan management missing the boat here?
 
#2 · (Edited)
Is Nissan management missing the boat here?
Not at all. Too low profit margin. Nissan (or any other car maker) would never start offering an inexpensive vehicle in USA, where they spent years grooming public to buy expensive cars filled with all available options as a base version. Just look how they jacked up price of a base 2020 Nissan Versa S by $2k compare with 2019 base version.
 
#4 ·
The Business Model.

Toyota for example. As with others.
Offers a vehicle for just about every segment.

The good marketing people wish to have young people start out with a new car. A budget car. And as they age and income increases - they purchase the more expensive models of same brand. Get them when they are young - usually at a time when there income is low. And keep them coming back for the more expensive cars as their income increases and family size increases. Initial brand loyalty.

Nissan sales have declined. Whether it is the wrong product, styling, or the CVT debacle. Something needs to be done at Nissan.

The Nissan Micra is one way to get young people into the Nissan camp. The Nissan marketing geniuses just don't get it. And Nissan sales continue to decline.

Hello Nissan. Wake up and smell the roses !
 
#3 ·
I think most of us would think it's a great idea having an offering at that starting price, but like said, most new vehicle buyers are buying trucks, suvs, cuvs, etc. They aren't making money selling cars, so they don't want to waste floor space and their allotments filling the lots with no profit margin.

To me, even so. Why not offer a $9-11K Versa with little/no option choices. They're going to sell being that cheap. They're still going to make a profit on it, plus financing, plus selling extended warranties, service, etc.

For what ever reason 'the cheapest, lowest cost car in America' thing never works out.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Alright! I love these kind of discussion threads! OP, please keep them coming!

From my personal point of view, Nissan is definitely missing the boat with the Micra, especially since the 2020 Versa shot up in price (by a lot) and the Versa Note is discontinued. Unfortunately, it appears that the bean counters won out here. The Versa Note being replaced by the Kicks, even though the Versa/Versa Note has been the best-selling subcompact car in America for many years now, and by a longshot (it outsells the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit combined).

Not at all. Too low profit margin. Nissan (or any other car maker) would never start offering an inexpensive vehicle in USA, where they spent years grooming public to buy expensive cars filled with all available options as a base version. Just look how they jacked up price of a base 2020 Nissan Versa S by $2k compare with 2019 base version.
As much as I despise SUVs/CUVs, they make huge profits. Look at Ford; they canceled all of their sedans and hatchbacks (Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, Taurus, plus the Grand C-Max several years ago before it even made it to the US) and are going all-in on SUVs.

I think most of us would think it's a great idea having an offering at that starting price, but like said, most new vehicle buyers are buying trucks, suvs, cuvs, etc. They aren't making money selling cars, so they don't want to waste floor space and their allotments filling the lots with no profit margin.

To me, even so. Why not offer a $9-11K Versa with little/no option choices. They're going to sell being that cheap. They're still going to make a profit on it, plus financing, plus selling extended warranties, service, etc.

For what ever reason 'the cheapest, lowest cost car in America' thing never works out.
I think the "people want SUVs" line is bogus; if we were offered more and better sedans/coupes/hatchbacks/station wagons/mini-minivans, we would choose those over SUVs. I would. If Toyota offered a 3-row Toyota Prius V, I would take it over the Rav4 hybrid any day.

Unfortunately, as long as car companies are for-profit, I don't see them wising up. We'll continue seeing this trend/push towards SUVs for the foreseeable future. I'm already considering buying used for my next car purchase, this being just one reason.

As for the cheapest car in America line, I am PROUD of my near-base model Versa Note. My S Plus is different from the base S only due to the CVT and cruise control. Actually, I wish it was even more stripped-down; I can do without the radio station information display (showing things like song title, artist name, etc.), traction control, and airbags. I BRAG that I bought the cheapest car in America (I know that the Versa sedan is technically the cheapest car in America, not the Versa Note, but close enough; the Versa Note is combined with the Versa sedan when calculating sales totals).

In fact, when Nissan was in a war with Hyundai for cheapest car in America bragging rights (Versa vs. Accent) circa 2009-2011, I really wanted to buy that base model Accent, the one under $10k. Who wins with that kind of competition? The consumers. The only reason I didn't buy that Accent was because my Camry was still running fine.

The Business Model.

Toyota for example. As with others.
Offers a vehicle for just about every segment.

The good marketing people wish to have young people start out with a new car. A budget car. And as they age and income increases - they purchase the more expensive models of same brand. Get them when they are young - usually at a time when there income is low. And keep them coming back for the more expensive cars as their income increases and family size increases. Initial brand loyalty.

Nissan sales have declined. Whether it is the wrong product, styling, or the CVT debacle. Something needs to be done at Nissan.

The Nissan Micra is one way to get young people into the Nissan camp. The Nissan marketing geniuses just don't get it. And Nissan sales continue to decline.

Hello Nissan. Wake up and smell the roses !
As I mentioned above, the Versa/Versa Note have slaughtered the subcompact competition in America. It outsells Toyota and Honda, the two heavyweights in America, combined (Yaris and Fit). It's not even close. I wouldn't buy the 2nd generation Versa sedan (2012-2019) because it's butt-ugly (especially the face-lifted 2015-2019 model) but I bought a Versa Note. I'm sure a huge reason for the Versa's success is because of its cheap price (i.e. affordable). Even if I had the money, I don't want to spend $30k+ for a car when I can get a functional, brand-new car with a full warranty for $12k.

The 2020 Versa has great styling. I wish that's what the 2nd gen Versa sedan looked like. Unfortunately it's too bloated and expensive for me; the 2nd gen Versa was already big.

Nissan could bring the Micra here. I would certainly prefer it over SUVs. Nissan could also bring back the Versa Note. Better yet, make the Versa Note 2 feet longer to fit a 3rd row for a total of 7 people (2+3+2). I'd be down for that. I oftentimes wonder what my Versa Note would be like if it had a 3rd row...
 
#6 ·
The problem is the base model of cars hardly sell, especially ones with manual transmissions. Looking at the Nissan Canada website a Micra S starts at $10,488, the SV starts at $15,598, and SR $17,598 Canadian dollars.

Buy the time dealers order cars they add several options which really push up the price at which point the buyer will look at the next model up.

Moving forward Nissan is going to limit fleet sales, incentives, and other discounts. And they are going stop selling to sub prime buyers. Many young people don't have great credit to buy new or are buying second hand.
 
#7 ·
Nissan is hurting.
Nissan has lost its way.
Nissan used to be next to Toyota.
Toyota did not completely embrace the CVT. Nissan did.

Now whether the issues with the CVT are real or imagined. The perception by some/many just hangs on. On to another brand. Missed sales for Nissan.

Then we have in the news that the CEO of Nissan went to jail or something similar. And the replacement CEO of Nissan was just dumped.
Nissan is a ship meandering in the sea of car manufacturers.

Nissan just recalled all cars sold in Japan built in the last 3 years. What is up with that?

LINK

I personally will not purchase any Nissan with a CVT.
The Micra has a 4 speed regular automatic transmission.
Hello! Nissan. Wake up and smell the roses.

I do own a Nissan Versa. With a 4 speed regular automatic transmission. Great car for what it is. Real basic. But it gets to and fro from where I wish to go. With reliability.

There is a market for an inexpensive small car. Of course, not for everyone. But there is no car for everyone.

I personally wrote a letter to the CEO of Nissan USA. Politely mentioning bringing the Nissan Micra to the USA.

Guess what I received back from Nissan USA???

I received a letter back from Nissan USA stating that they do not accept letters from customers. I have it here and would post it if I could ever figure out how to do that.

Nissan USA does not want any letters from the general public.
 
#10 ·
I personally wrote a letter to the CEO of Nissan USA. Politely mentioning bringing the Nissan Micra to the USA.

Guess what I received back from Nissan USA???

I received a letter back from Nissan USA stating that they do not accept letters from customers. I have it here and would post it if I could ever figure out how to do that.

Nissan USA does not want any letters from the general public.
Just next time you send a letter to Nissan sign it something like "Songkrai and Sons, Ltd"...
 
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