by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – NISSAN’s partner in Algeria, Groupe Hasnaoui, has extended its 30-year-old partnership with the Japanese auto manufacturer.
They have signed a renewed distributor agreement that dates back to 1993.
“It’s a momentous occasion for us, as we seek to unite the entire continent under one organisation for the first time in our global company’s 90-year history,” said Nissan Africa President Joni Paiva.
“This is part and parcel of our mid-term growth strategy, to unlock the potential that this continent has as the world’s last automotive frontier by providing the best line-up of models to answer Africa’s mobility needs in a sustainable, safe and aspirational way,” Paiva said.
Nissan Africa is the only original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in the continent to have two fully owned plants, in Egypt and South Africa, and two Disassembled Knocked Down (DKD) facilities in Ghana and Nigeria.
“We are excited about this partnership,” said Maciej Klenkiewicz, Nissan South Africa and Independent Markets Africa Country Director.
“We have ambitious plans for the Algerian market and specifically with the locally built Nissan Navara,” Klenkiewicz added.
The North African markets of Algeria, Egypt and Libya have been identified as key markets for the new Navara, along with a range of exciting packages that will be introduced with the model across the continent.
Abdallah Hasnaoui founded Groupe Hasnaoui in 1964.
He is one of the most important Algerian entrepreneurs and participated fully in shaping the private sector in the north African nation.
The Group is composed of eight companies including Nissan Algeria.
Nissan Algeria has currently four branches in Algiers, Oran, Blida and Rassauta, with an extension project in the next fiscal year.
“We are very happy to be signing this new agreement,” said Hasnaoui.
“It’s a new chapter in what has been an enduring partnership and it is fitting that we embrace the future here at the home of the all new Nissan Navara, which truly is worthy successor to the legendary NP300 Hardbody and a vehicle that epitomises everything the African continent Free Trade Agreement hopes to achieve.”
– CAJ News