Nissan sales momentum and shorter wait times to continue

Nissan is back as a big seller in Australia – and it believes 2024 will be a bumper year of sales for the Japanese brand due to improving supply and the release of fresh model variants.

Nissan Oceania managing director Adam Paterson says the sales momentum from the first two months of the year has positioned it well for a return to form locally.

Armed with new-generation QASHQAI, X-TRAIL and Pathfinder models released in late 2022, so far this year Nissan sales have boomed by 86 per cent following a lacklustre few years, with the JUKE (up 187 per cent), X-TRAIL (up 114 per cent) and Patrol (up 161 per cent) leading the sales growth.

“The volumes that you’re seeing now is more consistent with our aspirations of where the Nissan brand should fit or sit in the Australian market,” said Paterson of Nissan’s start to 2024.

He said improving supply was key to the sales momentum, which is set to continue with the QASHQAI e-POWER – a small SUV incorporating the car-maker’s unique series hybrid system.

“We’re starting to really see the potential of what our models will bring to the market when we have ample supply,” said Paterson.

“You will continue to see growth on a year-on-year basis.

“We still have a healthy customer order bank that we’re still working on satisfying, but there is actually supply at dealers.”

Whereas many brands have lengthy customer queues for some models (with hybrids often attracting the longest wait times, in particular the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid), Paterson says Nissan can supply e-POWER models relatively quickly.

He says supplies of the Japanese-made X-TRAIL e-POWER are improving and will continue to do so moving forward.

“We had greater challenges shortly after launch, but supply has greatly improved,” said Paterson, who is forecasting an increase in the e-POWER sales mix, which currently sits at just 24 per cent of all-wheel drive X-TRAIL variants.

“It’s going to do better than that… based on availability,” he said.

But Nissan’s local chief says there may need to be flexibility from customers who want swift delivery.

“Could I go and buy an e-POWER tomorrow? Yes. But if you want a specific one in a specific colour and you live in a specific suburb then you’re waiting.

“But if you’re generally flexible as far as colour, exterior… you can pick one up tomorrow.”

In other words, shop around!

As for other models, Nissan says the wait list for the big Patrol 4x4 has dried up and it’s now a lot easier to get hold of one.

“There’s now stock of Ti and Ti-L in most dealerships,” a spokesperson told carsales.

“Patrol Warrior production is increasing and there is almost a vehicle in every dealership to test drive and more vehicles coming into stock.”

It’s a similar story with the British-built JUKE and QASHQAI, and the US-sourced Pathfinder.

The only Nissan currently proving trickier to get hold of is the Z sports car, which sells in low volumes anyway.

But, again, by shopping around you’re likely to find the exact colour or model variant you’re chasing.

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