Final Exam: Post Covid Virus

Nissan over the years has seen its share of economic challenges, and still managed to prevail over the years. One of the questions that will hover over companies and products in the upcoming years is will there be a recession and if so how will we sell? Many economic experts believe it will be a recession in the months following the Covid virus, and if that is so Nissan has proven it can bounce back with the market.

Nissan made it through the Great Recession back in 2007-08, and was able to push the Altima to sell over 250,000 cars. While other companies like Ford and Chrysler were battling with bankruptcy filings, Nissan managed to capitalize. Although Nissan was much earlier in the product life cycle in 2007 compared to now, i believe because of the maturity level it is currently at with previous experience in dealing with poor markets Nissan can bounce back after this virus with or with out a recession. Nissan wasn't on pace to have a record breaking selling year with the Altima, and in fact can take this time to remarket the Altima to gear towards the needs of social distancing affects after Covid-19. Just like in 2007-08 Nissan was able to push its number higher than years prior to a recession, which many of its competitors weren't able to do. Nissan is in a good position maintain during covid, but once over can turn sales around and continue to avoid the inevitable decline of a products life cycle. 

Social Media Marketing

Nissan uses a lot of different social media platforms to market products. Nissan has over 500,000 followers on Twitter, over 12 million on Facebook likes with 3 million followers, and almost a million followers on Instagram. Although all the social media platforms have different audiences and markets Nissan is able to excel in all the markets. Nissan uses its Facebook platform better than the others just off the amount of followers. With Facebook Nissan can promote more advertisement since facebook is the larger platform amongst the listed. Along with having more followers majority of the likes Nissan generates comes from Facebook.

Current Product Life Cycle - 2019 Nissan Altima

The current life cycle of the 2019 Nissan Altima is in the maturity stage. Nissan the brand has been working the Altima line for over two decades. Nissan introduced the Altima in the late 90s and through the years the product has flourished. At the current stage Nissan has not been able to top the 300 thousand mark in sales as it had in the previous years. With sales being at a stagnant pace of the years Nissan has reached the maturity stage and will eventually decline.

Competitive Edge

The 2019 Nissan Altima has plenty of competitors to edge out. What helps the 2019 standout is the standard features that it offers unlike the competition. Nissan offers features like forward collision warning standard in all 2019 models, and competitors like the 2020 Subaru Legacy do not offer it at all. Not only do the features that are offered standard set the 2019 Nissan apart from the competition, but the long standing history behind the car model. The continuing improvements to the Altima every year continue to help Nissan stand above most car brands. 

Brand Name

Nissan is one of North America's largest car manufacturers. With a brand that is stamped with over 80 years of satisfied costumers the brand speaks for itself. A brand like Nissan is a generational brand that can be passed down through many generations of people. In the car market this type of brand means a lot, because car companies love nothing better than to keep a family in their line of vehicles and be that families car brand of choice. There are not many brands that can compete with the name like Nissan or even the amount of time they have spent meeting needs of consumers. There is no doubt Nissan will continue to be a trade mark name for many more years to come as they continue to innovate their cars. 

Sales Management

The process in selling the 2019 Nissan Altima is just like selling any other car on the market. First the car is produced in Canton, Mississippi. All of the cars Nissan produces comes out of Canton, Mississippi, as well as their first plant in Symrna,Tennesse. After production cars are shipped to dealers to be sold. the process of buying a car is not always an easy one. With a price point just under 30k unless you have the money saved up your stuck doing paper work. From production to signing is how the 2019 Nissan starts and finishes.

Nissan Altima best features Ad

The best features that separate the 2019 Altima from the competition is all the technology Nissan offers for the car. Nissan does a great job in their TV commercial ad's showcasing the tech in the 2019 Nissan Altima, as well as a full walk through of the car available online to see all the features of the car. For a 30 second commercial window Nissan packed in a lot of the cool tech features to grab the consumers attention.

2019 Nissan Altima Walk through:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJEf_XJWbU

2019 Nissan Altima TV Commercial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw9hQd0UznA

How is the 2019 Altima retailed?

Nissan has hundreds of ways their cars are retailed. In 2020 with the use of the internet, and social media makes buying and selling goods easier. The best way Nissan retails the 2019 Altima is through their own websites, and dealership locations. Nissan has over 1,000 dealerships nation wide; which includes the dealerships they share with their partnership with car brand Infiniti. Nissan also allows consumers to buy, and customize not just the 2019 Altima but all current models they have. This is the best way to retail the 2019 Altima, because Nissan is able to control all aspects of the transaction without losing profit by paying a middle man. Nissan is able to directly sell to the consumer which helps further push the brand with their own chain of dealer nation wide. 

Evoked Set

The evoked set Nissan the brand not just the Altima are dozens of car companies like; Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Volkswagon just to name a few. Those are just to name a few in the price range, and car category as the 2019 Altima. there are plenty of other brands consumers consider on the market but year after year Nissan competes with top tier across all car categories.

The Vision

Nissan strives to lead the car industry in innovation and technology. Nissan wants to lead all future car generations with their alliance with Renault.  Renault Nissan has been Nissan's way to further the brand in the tech market with lines of electric cars. Nissan see's the next big thing for the company will be moving into the world of electric vehicles. The need and want for electric cars world wide have allowed Nissan to gain growth in market shares both domestic and in China. Within the next couple years Nissan will be rolling out lines of electric cars to compete with other electric companies.

Target Market

Like all car brands Nissan's target market is all drivers. The 2019 Altima's features bring a different look to a market geared toward the tech savoy driver. The 2019 Altima targets driver's in their late 20's through their late 30's. The upcoming professional mogul, the tech savoy type, the family car; are all the target driver's Nissan looks to target with the 2019 Altima. With all of the new tech, stylish look, incredible speed and safety features in the 2019 Altima it has enough to satisfy every one.

Altima Development - 2018/2019

Outside of the exterior appearance of the 2018,2019 Altima's telling them apart, there are other features under the hood that separate the two. The two grills on the outside of the cars; the 2018 with the small silver trim lining, and the 2019 with the larger. Nissan also gave the 2019 a bump in in horsepower and torque. The bump wont make you feel like your driving a Porsche, but the 2019 offers 188 horsepower/180 lb-ft of torque to the 2018 179hp/177 lb-ft torque. There are other features like the standard 8" touch screen display in the 2019 Altima, and newly designed spacious interior are just a few more things to separate the two.

Ethics & Social Responsibility

As a leading car brand Nissan takes pride in giving back to the community through various nonprofit organizations across the country. Through the Nissan Foundation, Nissan has donated over $11.5 million to 150 organizations. All of the organizations involved with the Nissan Foundation share the same core values to promote respect and understanding between cultural and ethnic groups. Nissan Foundation grant winners here in New York City are;

• Brooklyn Historical Society
• Jewish Children’s Museum
• Jewish Museum
• One to World Inc.
• Tanenbaum Center for Inter-religious Understanding

SWOT

Strengths:

• Tones of leg room with spacious interior. 
• Every car comes standard with a 8" touch screen display.
• Apple Car play standard (also compatible for Android users)

Weaknesses:

• Like any car a key weakness is the bumps, bruises, and wear and tear that comes with driving. It also comes with extra expenses like gas and car insurance. 

Opportunities:

• The 2019 Nissan Altima can improve in the cabin noise. While inside the car is luxurious and spacious; the cabin does not reduce outside noise very well. 

Threats:

• There are plenty of competitors in the field; who also share the same mission statement. It is a constant battle to edge the competition every year. There is always the constant threat of not being able to stand out.   

2019 Nissan Altima

Mission Statement - "Shake up the midsize sedan market"

My product is the 2019 Nissan Altima; unlike any of the previous Altima's the 2019's stunning frame and sleek inside far exceeds expectations. The car comes standard with a 8" Nissan -Connect touch screen display.