Nissan Rolls Out New Global Retail 'Visual Identity'

ATLANTA, April 26 -- Today, Nissan North America, Inc., announced the opening of the redesigned Team Nissan dealership in Lithia Springs, Ga. Team Nissan is the first dealership to integrate Nissan's new retail environment design initiative for facilities and signage. Team Nissan is a premier example of Nissan's goal of achieving enduring profitable growth by building a powerful brand.

The dealership opening marks the beginning of Nissan's efforts to apply a new visual identity and design and create a consistent and coherent Nissan brand image at retail outlets.

Team Nissan, part of AutoNation, Inc., , is the first existing store fully redesigned under the brand guidelines. The new retail initiative is also designed to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty by managing traffic flow to insure all customers are being taken care of in a timely and efficient manner. Every potential customer contact point was considered and designed to improve the retail experience. AutoNation is also completing projects this year under the new Nissan program at Maroone Nissan of Miami and Maroone Nissan of Fort Lauderdale. Over the next five years, AutoNation plans to apply elements of the retail environment program to the rest of its 25 Nissan franchises in the U.S.

"The new design is a showcase for Nissan product services and meets our need to address retail facility capacity for Nissan's expanded vehicle line-up and sales growth," said Bill Kirrane, vice president and general manager of the Nissan Division. "The launch of the all-new Altima has helped reinvigorate Nissan's brand. Over the next two years, with the debut of more exciting new products, our brand identity will be reflected in dealerships all over the country."

"Our significant investment in 28 Nissan franchises reflects how strongly we value our relationship with the brand and how eagerly we await the new Nissans that are headed for showrooms," said Michael E. Maroone, President and Chief Operating Officer of AutoNation, Inc. "This is why we're enthusiastically supporting the new retail environment program. It will lead to greater sales of Nissans and more loyal Nissan customers."

The new Nissan retail environment design was first unveiled to dealers in September 2001. Based on current dealer demand for the program, Nissan anticipates over 100 Nissan dealers will commence construction during 2002. Nissan has approximately 1,100 dealerships nationwide, and the company expects all of them to be redesigned in the next six to nine years. Concurrently, this retail design initiative will be expanded globally.

The design process was preceded by an intensive research and audit phase, during which identity and brand strategists Lippincott & Margulies interviewed Nissan customers and dealers and assessed Nissan and competitor locations throughout the U.S. Equally important to the process was the translation of Nissan's new brand strategy into criteria that would guide the development of the dealership environment.

"Our research indicates that the retail environment plays an integral role in customer satisfaction, likelihood of transaction and repeat business," said Peter Dixon, Senior Partner, Lippincott & Margulies. "With that in mind, we created a unique, Nissan-branded point of sale that enhances the experience for the customer while improving dealership operations."

To facilitate successful brand integration, Lippincott & Margulies used Customer Experience Mapping(SM), a proprietary method that enables the firm to identify the factors that impact a customer's retail experience and then ensure that the brand attributes are expressed at each of these critical touch points.

Visitors to the new Nissan retail environment will encounter bold, innovative signage, a welcoming entrance and distinctive architecture reflecting the design language in new Nissan vehicles. Customers will appreciate the easy-to-navigate layout and amenities like children's playrooms, business lounges, and retail shops. Dealers will benefit from the integrated sales and service departments, greater cross-selling opportunities and ultimately, increased profitability.

"The new design reflects our desire to build a powerful brand by making the consumer experience as easy and personalized as possible. We listened to our customers and sought to create an environment where they would be comfortable and at ease with the retail experience," said Mark Perry, Director, brand management and research, Nissan. "In addition, the design reflects Nissan's brand personality and will be a complementary showcase for our exciting new product line-up."

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at http://www.nissandriven.com .

Team Nissan in Lithia Springs, Ga., is one of 28 Nissan retail franchises owned and operated by AutoNation, Inc. , the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.- based company that is America's largest retailer of both new and used vehicles. For more information, visit the corporate site section of http://www.AutoNation.com or contact Corporate Communications at 954-769-3146.