Nissan dalam AFTA

[observer]

Berikut adalah article yang menjelaskan bahwa Nissan Malaysia akan menjadi basis produksi untuk sedan, Nissan Thailand untuk mobil pickup, dan Nissan Indo untuk MPV. Tetapi tidak jelas negara mana yang akan menjadi basis produksi SUV.


Wednesday, July 21, 2004

Tan Chong keen to set up manufacturing plant
By Jagdev Singh Sidhu
Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd has plans to set up a local manufacturing plant but that would depend on the country's tariff structure from 2005 under the Asean Free Trade Area (Afta) regime.

The idea is to use the plant to manufacture passenger cars for the Malaysian market and also for export to other Asean countries and even the rest of the world.

“We are getting ready for Afta. How many models we will make and when we will start this plant will depend on the Government's tariffs for 2005,'' said Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd executive director Dr Ang Bon Beng.

“It is already in Nissan's plans that Malaysia would assemble mid-sized passenger cars,'' he said, adding that Thailand would make pick-ups and Indonesia multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) for the Japanese motor vehicle manufacturer.

“We are thinking not only about Asean but also exporting back to Nissan Japan or the rest of the world,'' Ang said.

Tan Chong is not the only company awaiting the announcement of the Government's tariff structure under Afta before committing vast sums of money to a manufacturing plant.

Dr Ang Bon Beng

UMW Holdings Bhd is also reported to be contemplating such an investment in Malaysia. And Honda Malaysia already has a manufacturing plant in Malacca.

Should the new tariff structure under Afta prove restrictive for an investment in a manufacturing plant, Tan Chong may opt to expand and upgrade its existing assembly plant instead, Ang said.

“Then we will use the AICO (Asean Industrial Cooperation) scheme with Thailand and Indonesia. We are already in the process of planning with Thailand and Indonesia the models to be involved in order to reduce the cost of the vehicles,'' he said.

Nissan owns plants in Thailand and Indonesia.

Analysts say a manufacturing plant would only make sense if it caters for the Asean market.

“And given that Malaysia is the largest passenger car market in the region, it makes sense for Nissan and Tan Chong to establish a presence here,'' said the head of research of a local stockbroking company.

Ang said a manufacturing plant in Malaysia would need to produce about 24,000 vehicles a year to make a profit.

Tan Chong's current assembly plant can handle up to 30,000 units a year.

The company has seen a huge spike in sales of 4WD vehicles over the past two years, thanks mainly to the X-Trail and Frontier.

Ang believes that the company's total vehicle sales will rise to 22,000 units this year and has forecast sales volume to reach between 25,000 and 27,000 next year.

Tan Chong will be introducing three new vehicle models by the end of the year, including the 350-Z and the Nissan March.

For 2005, Ang said, the company hoped to bring in the completely knocked-down packs for the Nissan March and limited numbers of the Nissan Murano as completely built-up units.

[rover75fans]

Sayang ya indonesia kebagian mpv,
mpv dengan lebih dari 4 tempat duduk biasanya hanya laku untuk mereka yang punya keluarga besar. Kalo anak cuma satu nggak mungkin beli itu. Jadi di negara maju kurang pembeli.
Mendingan buat MPV yang bisa dibuat 6 kursi atau 4 kursi dengan model kursi belakangnya bisa dihilangkan kalau mau ekspor ke luar negeri.
Karena besar bagasi juga sangat penting.