Japanese carmakers accelerate sales pitch

Models pose next to Nissan’s compact SUV Qashqai, launched in Blue Square, Hannam-dong, Seoul, Tuesday. The second generation sport utility vehicle comes in three models, with its basic model priced at 30.5 million won. / Yonhap

By Park Jin-hai

Japan’s top three carmakers, after giving way to diesel-powered German rivals for years in the local market, are launching new cars over the last two months of the year.

Nissan Korea launched its first compact diesel SUV Qashqai on Tuesday, marking the sixth anniversary of its entry into the market. The company also unveiled plans for its flagship electric vehicle “Leaf” that will be launched in December.

Toyota meanwhile will launch the new Camry next week, while Honda will launch its flagship SUV CR-V in December.

“This year Nissan Korea has posted a 40 percent annual sales increase from the previous year,” said Takehiko Kikuchi, president of Nissan Korea, during Qashqai’s launching event in Blue Square in Hannam-dong, Seoul, Tuesday.

“The newly launched Qashiqai, together with the Altima will be our two bestselling models to rev up our company’s growth in Korea,” he said.

The SUV’s global sales stand at over 2 million since its 2007 launch.

Some 600 customers have already preordered the second generation compact SUV over the past two months.

Kikuchi said that with its full lineup of gasoline, diesel and electric vehicles, the company expects to sell a total of 4,500 Nissan cars in Korea this year, a 147 percent increase from a last year.

Toyota’s face-lifted Camry will be launched here as well.

The vehicle is largely considered a rival to Hyundai Motor’s Sonata sedan, and some 500 people have preordered since last month.

Toyota expects to relive the glory of 2012, when its seventh generation Camry recorded annual sales of 10,000 here.

Honda, too, will receive preorders this Friday for its upgraded CR-V that will be launched here next month.

Since Nissan’s Infinity Q50’s February launching, Japanese carmakers failed to diversify their portfolios. Coupled with the notable improvement of German and Korean cars in fuel economy and brand value, diesel-powered European cars are increasing their appeal to cost-sensitive Korean drivers that were once loyal to Japanese cars.

Japanese vehicles accounted for only 10 percent of foreign cars sold here in the first half of the year, a steep fall from 35.5 percent in 2008, according to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association.