Nissan Africa regional general manager for Central Africa Linda Mazimhaka has praised the country’s national sales companies in Zimbabwe for their effort in restoring the automaker to the number one position in the market since the start of 2022.
“We really do have some of the best dealers imaginable,” he says, “they are proactive and extremely enthusiastic. Even though they are competitors, they are able to work incredibly well together, often in very difficult economic situations.”
The most recent period had been a case in point, he says, a combination of tough trading conditions; the effects of the COVID 19 lockdown, foreign exchange restrictions and supply issues precipitated by the global semi-conductor shortage.
“At one stage last year, because of all of these factors, Nissan had ranked number four in the market, but thanks to the leadership at Croco, Clover Leaf, Amtec and AMC, our four authorised Zimbabwean Nissan dealerships, the brand has made its way back slowly and surely to the pole position it held before COVID-19”.
The efforts of the dealers had been assisted by the highly successful launch of the all new, built of more Nissan Navara.
“The response to this vehicle, which is the toughest vehicle Nissan has ever designed and is built in Africa by Africans for Africans according to the highest global standards, has been a major driver in winning back market share,” says Mazimhaka.
“But the Nissan Magnite has also been a great drawcard for us too, as well as our work horse half ton NP200 LCV. Zimbabwe is an immensely special place for Nissan Africa – and a very important market too. We have been there continuously since we opened our first showroom more than five decades ago, and it’s also a country where we are traditionally the undisputed market leaders.
“Thanks to Croco, Clover Leaf, Amtec and AMC, the four companies who together make up Nissan Zimbabwe, we are back up there once again.”
