Nissan South Africa to participate at annual Smarter Mobility Africa Conference
Nissan South Africa will participate in the Smarter Mobility Africa Conference that will take place virtually over a three-day period from 27-30 October. The event will unpack the smarter mobility landscape in Africa, including the challenges and opportunities brought about by COVID-19 and the progress of African governments’ Green Economy Strategies, which seek to enhance sustainable development without environmental risk.
The outbreak of COVID-19 has challenged traditional models of mobility and highlighted the need for innovation and agility in the automotive industry. While the economic impacts have slowed down business activity for Original Equipment Manufacturers, it has created an opportunity for the industry to transition toward sustainable mobility and green economy solutions.
“We are living in a rapidly changing world. Smarter mobility solutions will not only be influenced by the pandemic, but by the social and environmental shifts we are witnessing. Nissan is committed to embracing change and providing solutions that reflect the needs of the South African consumer,” says Kabelo Rabotho, Marketing Director Nissan South Africa.
Indeed, in response to the restrictions imposed due to the outbreak of COVID-19, Nissan has introduced key initiatives such as the Shop@Home service, which brings the showroom directly into potential buyers’ homes, and the Nissan pre-finance tool, powered by Wesbank, which allows customers to check their affordability by completing a pre-approval form before applying for financing. The introduction of the pre-finance tool makes Nissan the first vehicle manufacturer in South Africa to offer pre-financial approval within their website that is also linked to the credit bureau.
Nissan SA will soon be offering home test drives with a few pilot dealers, to support the customers who prefer to physically experience a Nissan vehicle of their choice. This will be followed by a full virtual showroom experience that will provide a 360 virtual tour of the dealership and all vehicles from a digital platform.
The Smarter Mobility conference, hosted by Generation.e, will take place at the end of October, which is Transport month in South Africa. A government-led initiative that encourages safe, affordable, accessible and reliable transport in the country, Transport month also seeks to raise awareness on the importance of transport on the economy.
“We are currently at a pivotal moment as an industry. If we are able to leverage on technology and innovation effectively, we will shape the future of mobility, and contribute favourably to the development of this country, and the continent," Kabelo Rabotho adds.
