The Japanese automaker recently celebrated its milestones in 2021 and announced its plans for sustainability with its valued partners during its annual media thanksgiving event held on January 27, 2022.
"The year 2021 was a tough time for the entire industry, but despite the challenges we faced, we're grateful that Filipinos continue to trust Nissan with their mobility needs. This has inspired us to continue our mission of enriching the lives of people with our innovative vehicles and top-notch customer service," says Atsushi Najima, Nissan Philippines' President and Managing Director.
A Transformative 2021
Nissan powered through a challenging 2021 and dared to do what others don't while fueled by endurance and resilience.
Leading Nissan's banner year are the launches of the Navara, LEAF, Terra, Almera, and Patrol. Its reinforced core lineup headlines the automaker's innovations, led by Nissan Intelligent Mobility. This suite of advanced safety features is designed to provide convenience and protection for both drivers and passengers on the road. The arrival of the Nissan LEAF, the world's first mass-market electric vehicle (EV), also propelled safer, smarter, and more sustainable driving in the Philippines.
With the company's refreshed model line up, Nissan has pushed through many challenges and regained its #3 market share ranking towards the second half of 2021.
Nissan also renewed its Safe Trips campaign with the Department of Tourism (DOT). This initiative advocates for safe and responsible travel in the new normal through driving and also promotes local businesses which have also been affected by the pandemic.
Together with the DOT, various stakeholders, and select journalists, Nissan arranged media drives to Ilocos and Boracay to promote an alternative way of reaching popular travel destinations. The drive highlighted how Nissan's vehicles are ideal road trip partners to rediscover the beauty of the Philippines and also to discover hidden gems around the country.
Lastly, Nissan made a meaningful mark through its outreach programs. Over the course of the pandemic, the automaker supported medical frontliners by providing thousands of meal packs and personal protective equipment.
Driving towards a sustainable future
After another milestone year, Nissan is powering up for another year of innovation, starting with a declaration of its Blue Switch initiative in the Philippines.
Blue Switch is the next phase of our electrification plans built on Nissan Ambition 2030, the company's long-term vision for empowering mobility by strengthening our aim of becoming a sustainable company that drives towards a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive world. Blue Switch is focused on building key partnerships that address social concerns with the use of electric vehicle technologies. Started in 2018 in Japan, the initiative focused on partnering with government and private stakeholders to promote and encourage the use of electric vehicles to address social concerns like energy management, ecotourism and disaster response.
During the event, Nissan invited the honorable Senator Sherwin Gatchalian to deliver a keynote address on sustainability and the future of EVs in the country. This was followed by a panel discussion from esteemed guests to show their support for the initiative. These include Nestor Archival, Cebu City Councilor and sustainability advocate; Edmund Araga, President of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines; Ferdi Raquelsantos, President of the Electric Vehicle Owners Society and Michel Goho from the Gateway dealer group, the exclusive Nissan LEAF distributor in the country.
Together, they discussed the potential benefits of electrified mobility and how it can be successfully integrated into society while addressing social concerns in the areas of tourism, the environment, and emergency response. The latter was recently demonstrated during Typhoon Odette when Nissan and Councilor Archival used the Nissan LEAF and Power Mover units to help affected communities in Cebu. A similar effort was also done in Tacloban in partnership with the local Nissan dealership in the province. The EV's vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology was able to provide electricity from its battery, allowing residents to charge their mobile devices and contact loved ones.
Nissan Philippines also brought the Nissan LEAF in Boracay as part of its Safe Trips campaign which has evolved to also advocate for ecotourism and to encourage sustainability through adapting more eco-friendly options such as using electric vehicles as a mode of transportation. In addition to continuous knowledge building and sharing in the market about EVs and its technology, Nissan also aims to raise awareness on its other practical benefits and uses.
"When we integrate EV technology into society, we can unify people, systems, and our goals as a nation. EVs can boost tourism, protect the environment, help us respond to emergencies faster, and help enrich the lives of many people. We are looking to turn this dream into reality this 2022 and we can do this by working together," ends Najima.
