NISSAN has some great family cars on sale around the world and the ‘Note’ is just one of many. With our two national car programs hampering the advancement of all other car brands (due to very favourable tax incentives) from selling competing vehicles, we Malaysians will not get a chance to own and drive some great compact vehicles like this Note ePOWER (that need to pay full import tax) and others from around the world.
Note History
The Nissan Note was first introduced in 2004. It was a compact 5-door high riding hatchback that competed with the Honda Jazz.
The second generation Note was launched in 2009 and it looked more like a compact MPV with a van-like profile. It carried the name Nissan Versa in some countries and was introduced in Thailand and qualified for the Thai government Eco-Car tax scheme.
If it arrived in Malaysia it would have competed with the Perodua Alza and sales would have been low. Nissan in Malaysia at the time had the Nissan X-Gear which also did not sell very well due to its selling price.
Note e-POWER
Now comes a third generation Note which was unveiled in November 2020. Launched in Japan with only a hybrid e-POWER powertrain which consists of an electric motor (or two in the AWD variant) and a 1.2 litre three-cylinder petrol engine acting as a range extender, the initial sales figure for this new mini MPV seems to suggest that the Japanese automaker's NEXT transformation plan, which aims to see the company sell 1 million electrified vehicles per year by 2023, could actually be a tangible reality.
Pricing starts from a rather reasonable 2,029,500 yen (RM78,000) for a base model in Japan, therefore this electrified Note would make a rather compelling alternative to the Toyota Yaris and Honda Jazz which are sold in Malaysia.
Orders for the all-new Nissan Note e-POWER have surpassed 20,000 units, which is more than double the compact car’s monthly sales target since it was released in Japan in November last year.
This all-new Note has been well received in Japan due to its smooth acceleration, stable deceleration control and good cabin insulation. Built on a newly developed platform, it features Nissan’s enhanced second-generation e-POWER system and advanced interior and exterior design that embodies the electrified era.
As Nissan’s best-selling model in its home market, the Note continues to play a key role in the Nissan NEXT global business transformation plan.
By the end of fiscal year 2023, Nissan expects to deliver more than 1 million electrified vehicles, including EVs and e-POWER models, to customers around the world each year.
Approximately 80% of the Note orders were for the highest grade, "X." Additionally, in a first for a Nissan compact car, about 40% of customers opted for the ProPILOT with Navi-link advanced driver support system.
More than half ordered the NissanConnect navigation system, Intelligent Around View Monitor, and Adaptive LED Headlight system, further underscoring the high demand for Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies.
This alone confirms the value proposition of this very low emissions hatchback and Nissan should consider introducing it in Malaysia if a fair tax structure was introduced. – The Vibes, February 4, 2021
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