Nissan Philippines, Inc. celebrated many milestones in 2021 with the launch of 5 new nameplates, as well as the renewal of its partnership with the Department of Tourism for the promotion of safe travels.
“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,” said Atsushi Najima, Nissan Philippines’ president and managing director.
A Transformative 2021
Nissan powered through a challenging 2021 by launching major nameplates: the Navara, LEAF, Terra, Almera, and Patrol — all headlining the automaker’s innovations, led by Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM). NIM is the brand’s suite of advanced safety features 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.
Nissan also renewed its Safe Trips campaign with the Department of Tourism (DOT). The campaign advocates 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 mounted drives to Ilocos and Boracay to promote an alternative way of reaching popular travel destinations.
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.
Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) President and Managing Director Atsushi Najima | Photo from NPI
Driving towards a sustainable future
To start 2022 on the right foot, Nissan began the year with the launch of its Blue Switch initiative in the country. Blue Switch is the next phase of Nissan’s electrification plans built on Nissan Ambition 2030, the company’s new long-term vision for empowering mobility and beyond. 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.
For the launch, Nissan invited the honorable Senator Sherwin Gatchalian to deliver the 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 Michael Goho from the Gateway dealer group, the exclusive distributor of the Nissan LEAF 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 their 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,” said Najima.
Read more about Nissan here:
- https://ignition.ph/features/driving-the-nautical-highway-to-boracay
- https://ignition.ph/news/all-new-nissan-almera-launched-in-the-philippines
- https://ignition.ph/news/nissan-ph-is-co-presentor-of-9th-philippine-electric-vehicle-summit-pushes-for-switch-to-evs
- https://ignition.ph/features/launched-new-nissan-terra-prices-start-at-php1-649m