Nissan Motor Philippines Inc. (NMPI) has launched its new X-Trail CVT model, which is expected to firm up its position in the very competitive sports utility vehicle auto market segment and elevates its status as having the most number of CKD assembly operations among local automotive assemblers.

NMPI President Allen C. Chen told reporters that the launch of the new model would firm up its monthly average sales of 200 units for the X-Trail model.

This would also pave the way for increased a total monthly sales volume of as much as 400 units a month.

At present, however, the Sentra sedan is still the company’s flagship model volume wise because of the popularity of Sentra 1.3 variant.

The new X-Trail CVT, with two variants, would add to the list of NMPI models to be sold here on CKD basis. The other CKD models are Cefiro, Sentra and Grand Livina. The CKD models account for 90 percent of its total business here and the CBU packs 10 percent for Teana and Serena models.

“Nissan Motor Philippines is one with the government in promoting the assembly of CKD vehicles as this will generate bigger employment to more Filipinos,” Chen said.

Chen also stressed that CKD production will contribute to the development of parts and components manufacturing in the country and enhance the country’s competitive capacity within the ASEAN region.

Chen expects that with the strong growth in the local automotive sector, the industry is going to match the 160,000 unit sales, the highest sales the industry has recorded in 1996, in two years time. He also said that once the new automotive industry development plan is in place, there would be more foreign investments that would flow into the country.

The X-Trail CVT is the second model launch by NMPI in a span of one month. By the third quarter this  year, the company is expected to launch a new premium sedan model.

The X-Trail CVT has a price range of P1.35 million to P1.55 million. Its parts are all imported from Japan at 0 to 10 percent tariff. The new X-Trail 2.5 liter features the XCVT (Xtronic Continuous Variable Transmission) making it stress-free “no-shift shock” and providing comfort to even when driving in tough terrains.