The network of Nissan commercial vehicle specialists will be expanded in the next 12 months ahead of a major sales push.

Tony Lewis, who joined Nissan Motor GB as LCV sales and marketing director in July after 14 years at LDV, has been set the task of increasing Nissan’s van and light truck volumes in the UK to 15,000 units by the end of 2012 under the GT2012 plan (G = growth; T = trust) announced in June.

It means Nissan is looking to triple LCV sales over the next four years. It expects to end this year on around 5,000 units – excluding Navara which is not included in its internal LCV figures.

For the past five years, Nissan has relied on cross-badged panel vans – Renault Kangoo, Trafic and Master became Nissan Kubistar,
Primastar and Interstar – to support its own NP300 pick-up and Cabstar small truck ranges.

Although good products, they were intended only to be a stop-gap until Nissan could bring through more of its own LCVs. Globally, 13 will be launched in the next four years. This will start with the NV200 small van at the end of 2009. It is expected to add up to 6,000 registrations annually.

Ahead of its arrival, Lewis aims to take the LCV network from its current 48 outlets to 70 to 80 dealers, which includes five based at Volvo Truck dealerships.

This will involve working with Nissan car dealers to encourage some to also become LCV specialists.

“For our dealers, they can maximise the Nissan opportunity they have, expanding sales and customer coverage without too much extra investment. We’re talking about a commercial vehicle specialist, full complement of emonstrators, courtesy vehicles and a dedicated
display and customer area,” said Lewis.

“Customers like the brand and what we stand for –  quality, reliability and style. Now we just need our own products to leverage that relationship.”

He wants “champions” who recognise that CV customers need to be back on the road as soon as possible, which means flexibility in servicing and replacement vehicles.