“Sedans and crossovers can co-exist”, Narasimhan

MANILA: 2018 Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) has been jam-packed with crossovers and SUVs. And one can count the number of the sedans showcased on fingers. But does that indicate towards anything? Is this a hint towards the interest of Filipinos shifting away from the sedans? Or is there still some life left in the saloon?

Well, if you put this question up against Mr. Narasimhan, the president of Nissan Philippines, he has got some other ideas altogether. He says, “Yes, globally, there is a rising demand for crossovers. But there are still customers who still prefer a sedan. You have to find the right balance. It doesn't have to be one or the other. Sedans and crossovers can co-exist”. So, he firmly believes that the sedan segment is not dying anytime soon and there’s a lot of gas still left in the tank. The sedans still play a major role in moving the sales chart upwards, he mentioned.

Mr. Narasimhan further added that the Juke and Almera, featuring distinctive styles in the B-segment are still selling in good numbers, and are quite popular among the crowd. He was also hopeful of the new Altima doing well in the Philippines. However, the arrival of the 2019 Altima in the Philippines is highly unlikely.

That Nissan Philippines Inc. will keep selling sedans in the future, is something we are quite sure about now. Currently, Nissan offers 3 different sedan body style options in the country. The Almera sits in the B-segment, with the Syphy and Altima residing in the C- and the D-segments respectively.