Dongfeng Nissan aims to sell 340,000 vehicles in 2008

Shanghai. February 1 (Gasgoo.com) – Dongfeng Nissan aims to sell 340,000 vehicles and to become one of China’s top five passenger vehicle makers, senior company official said this week.

 

Ren Yong, Dongfeng Nissan’s deputy general manager said “new technology” and “new models” will be Dongfeng Nissan’s two most powerful weapons in 2008. The automaker will introduce a SUV Qashqai and a new TEANA.

 

Ren said Dongfeng also plans to locally produce Qashqai crossover in China, but he did not disclose any specifics on this plan.

 

Qashqai will be available in two both 1.6 Liter engine and 2.0 Liter engine versions. Both versions have two-wheel and four-wheel drive modes and equipped with a CVT transmission system. The 1.6 liter version is equipped with a five speed manual transmission and the 2.0 liter version is equipped with a 6 speed manual transmission.

 

Ren did not reveal the price of Qashqai, but said the vehicle will be launched in Chinese market in March.

 

Separately, Dongfeng Nissan will not longer import VQ engines for Nissan TEANA vehicles from Japan, instead, these engines will be locally produce in China, Nissan vice president Yasuaki Hashimoto said last week.

 

Last year, Dongfeng Nissan sold 271,916 vehicles in Chinese market, about 30,000 short of its target for 2007. Currently, the automaker is ranked No.7 among China’s passenger vehicle makers.