Nissan marketing chief departs

NISSAN Motor Co Australia has parted ways with its executive general manager of marketing and sales, Tim Stuckey, as the company continues its ambitious campaign to become Australia’s number-one full-line vehicle importer by 2013.

Mr Stuckey, who was previously the general manager of marketing services at Wesfarmers Ltd, had worked in the role since November 2009.

Nissan spokesman Jeff Fisher told GoAuto that: “Nissan is looking for a supplementary skill-set to give us the best chance of achieving our mid-term goal of being the number one importer.”Mr Fisher confirmed that Nissan Australia managing director and CEO Dan Thompson would also take on Mr Stuckey’s role until a replacement is found.

As we have previously reported, the Japanese company aims to own 10 per cent of the Australian new vehicle market by early 2013, as part of its ‘GT2012’ plan.

The plan, which was announced early in 2009, also aims for a minimum 10 per cent segment share and a top-three ranking for each of its four ‘core’ models: the Navara ute, Micra light-car and the X-Trail and Dualis compact SUVs.

So far this year, the Micra holds a 6.9 per cent share of its segment, while the X-Trail and Dualis have accounted for 9.8 and 7.3 per cent of compact SUV sales. The Navara has snared 20.8 per cent in the 4x4 ute segment and 3.4 per cent in 4x2.

Mr Thompson told GoAuto last month that he remained confident the brand would achieve its goal, stating: “We’re still on track. We have 19 months to go, and it will be the launch of the Tiida replacement that gives us that last lift or boost.”The brand’s crucial new small vehicle – publicly unveiled at the Shanghai show in April this year – will be launched here in the first quarter of 2013, and could revive the ‘Pulsar’ nameplate that disappeared upon the launch of the unloved Tiida in early 2006.

Meanwhile, the brand will also release a long-awaited diesel variant of the Dualis crossover in the second half of next year, powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged unit that produces 97kW/320Nm and is sourced from alliance partner Renault.

According to industry statistician VFACTS, Nissan has so far this year achieved a 6.7 per cent overall market share in 2011 with 44,767 sales.

While this is up 0.7 per cent on the company’s position at the same time last year, it still places it third on the list of full-line importers, behind Mazda (9.0 per cent) and Hyundai (8.7 per cent).