Nissan Motor Company posted its worst quarterly profits in seven years last week, and (today/yesterday) the Japanese automaker unveiled a vehicle it hopes to help lead a turnaround.
“I introduce you to the new 2008 Nissan Altima coupe.”
The sporty two-door broke through a banner as line workers at the Smyrna plant stopped to watch. The Altima has consistently been the global best seller for Nissan, and company officials hope this new model will drive sales which have been lagging across the industry.
Senior Marketing Manager Michelle Erwin says the sportier coupe, which has already begun production at the Smyrna plant, plays up Nissan’s strengths.
“Nissan in general gets a younger customer base, but this gets us a new and interesting way to attract the 20 year olds.”
A thousand have already been pre-sold and dealers will get them May 25th. The Altima Coupe is one of 11 new models that has been or will be released this year.
Nissan won’t need more employees to produce the coupe. In fact, a recent buyout program enticed 700 factory workers to leave after truck sales slowed. The Smyrna plant now employs roughly 6-thousand workers. The corporate headquarters here has also pared its staff in recent months.
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