by Frank Beeton
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A probing review
of significant global
motor industry news
Nissan Launches NP300
Navara
The fact that motor manufacturers use
different names in different parts of the
world for essentially the same product
is a continuing source of frustration, and
potential confusion, for many industry
observers and commentators. Here in
South Africa, for example, Nissan sells its
NP300 Hardbody and Navara pickups as
two distinctly different product lines, with
the former being locally manufactured,
and the latter an imported model.
However, at a recent event in Bangkok,
Thailand, Nissan Motor Corporation
staged the world premiere of its all-new
“NP300 Navara” pickup, which seems to
indicate that globally, the two products
are synonymous, and that the South
African situation is the result of some
strategic in-house selection of available
variants, components and generations
to produce the required product
differentiation. There have been recent
reports that the production startup of the
successor to Nissan SA’s current one
ton pickup model has been delayed, and
we assume that this new NP300 Navara,
said to be the 12th generation of Nissan’s
pickup model, will be the product to
follow the current NP300 Hardbody
on to the Rosslyn assembly line, once
everything has been put into place.
Consequently, there should be
considerable local interest in the new
model, given Nissan’s continuous
presence in the South African pickup
market since the late 1950’s, initially
through its recently-resurrected Datsun
brand. Variants of the NP300 Navara
include narrow and wide body types,
king and double cab configurations,
and all-wheel-drive as an alternative to
two-wheel drive. The vehicle’s stance
and profile appears more suggestive of
the current Navara than the local NP300,
although the layout does exhibit several
new characteristics including lower roof
height, increased ground clearance and
larger loading space. Features include
a dynamic control braking system, LED
daytime running lights, fuel economy
indicator, aluminium-like centre cluster
and console finishes, and navigational
aids. The powertrain lineup announced
at the launch includes a choice of
2,5-litre DOHC in-line turbocharged
4-cylinder diesel or a 4-cylinder petrol
engines with the same displacement,
six-speed manual or seven-speed
automatic transmissions, and shift-onthe-fly 4x4 engagement for all-wheel
drive models. Safety features for 4x4
derivatives include Vehicle Dynamic
Control, Active Brake Limited Slip, Hill
Start Assist and Hill Descent Control.
No End yet to Suzuki-VW
Dispute!
We last reported on the long-running
dispute between Suzuki Motor
Corporation and Volkswagen late last
year. This stemmed from an agreement
signed between the two companies
in 2009, to establish a long-term
strategic partnership, including the
purchase, by Volkswagen, of a 19,9%
shareholding in Suzuki, who, in turn,
acquired a 2,5% interest in Volkswagen.
Problems emerged, however, when
Suzuki subsequently announced that
it would buy diesel engines from Fiat
S.p.A, for its new SX-4 SUV. This led
to some public mud-slinging between
the two companies, with allegations by
Suzuki of “a lack of respect” from VW,
and a withholding of hybrid technology
by the German company. Suzuki then
requested that its shareholding be
returned, but VW retaliated that it did
not expect a partner to buy engines
elsewhere, and refused to return the
shares, after which the Japanese
manufacturer filed for international
arbitration in November 2011.
| words in action
22
AUGUST 2014
On June 13th Chairman Osamu Suzuki
reportedly said that he still did not know
when a ruling on this matter would be
made, although there have been reported
suggestions from unnamed sources
that it could happen before year’s end.
From comments made, however, it
appears that there is still no appetite for
a settlement or reconciliation between
the parties. Analysts have frequently
pointed to Suzuki’s relatively small global
output (around 2,8 million units in 2013)
and its heavy dependency on Maruti
Suzuki India Limited, which accounts
for more than half of the global total, as
good reasons for it to seek a business
partner. Suzuki also closed its North
American car operation during 2013, as
sales in that region had only totaled some
25 000 units in the previous year. Suzuki’s
aforementioned relationship with Fiat,
which also includes the joint production
of the SX-4/Sedici SUV in Poland,
seems to be in a comfortable space,
and may point to increased co-operation
in the future. However, Fiat Chrysler
Automobiles is still bedding down, so it
may be some time before such a scenario
could develop.
Chinese MG’s Making
Progress
The news, in 2005, that car manufacturer
MG Rover had gone into administration
was one of the final acts in the sad
demise of the once great Britishowned motor industry. Enthusiasts
of the numerous marques that had
been gathered together in the ill-fated
consolidation of manufacturers under
British Leyland in 1968 would also not
have been comforted by the news that
MG Rover’s assets had been purchased
by China’s oldest vehicle manufacturer,
Nanjing Automobile Group Corporation.
The deal, reportedly worth around $US
50 million, would result in the relocation of
the powertrain manufacturing operation,