Nissan Plans To Launch Murano SUV In Japan In Autumn 2004

TOKYO October 21, 2003; Yoshio Takahashi writing for Dow Jones reported that Nissan Motor Corp. President Carlos Ghosn said Wednesday his company is planning to launch its popular "Murano" sports utility vehicle in Japan next autumn.

Though it didn't provide sales targets for Japan, Nissan's sales of the Murano have totaled 45,000 units monthly since its launch in North American markets last year.

While Japan's overall market for SUVs has stagnated, demand has been growing for models that ride more like a passenger vehicle than a truck. The Murano has a 3.5-liter V-6 engine and a car chassis, and is available in both four-wheel- drive and front-wheel-drive configurations. The U.S. price is about US$30,000.

Nissan makes the Murano at a plant in Fukuoka Prefecture, southern Japan. Very few modifications will be necessary for the Japanese market, other than moving the driver's seat to the right side.

The company has so far launched 20 new models worldwide under its three-year " Nissan 180" plan to expand sales and cut costs, with at least eight more to be released before the end of fiscal 2005.

It launched a total of 12 models in fiscal 2002.