Datsun finds new export angle

Press, 24 February 1978, Page 13

Datsun finds new export angle

The Datsun distributors in Britain have begun

shipping good used cars from Britain to Japan where they obtain much higher prices. Datsun U.K.', the master agents for Nissan Datsun vehicles in Britain. revealed the unique scheme soon after it was announced that Datsun was the biggest importer of cars to Britain in 1977.

A trial shipment of cars left Britain recently in one of Nissan’s giant transporter vessels used to bring new Datsuns to Europe. Mr Tony Stone, Datsun U.K.’s special projects manager, said. “You could say we’re going into the business of exporting British cars to ease the anti-Japanese feeling but this is not the prime reason for the move. What really decided us was the

strong demand for certain British models in Japan.”

Datsun has already found no difficulty obtaining buyers for the used cars in Japan. Mr Stone said that selection of cars was vitally important. Used cars in Japan realise almost double the selling prices in Britain, but Japanese buyers are highly selective.

Only used cars which are already available new in Japan will be exported by Datsun U.K. Right-hand drive examples of European cars which have special appeal to Japanese buyers are being exported, including Austin taxis, Minis, Ferraris and Mercedes. In Japan the latest version of the Nissan President, named the Sovereign. has been winning sales from the big car American section of the market.