Apparently, Nissan is going completely automatic. No more SHIFTing for the Japanese brand. Seems that the tagline has failed to catch on and persuade enough buyers to visit their local Nissan dealer, especially in Europe. While no new slogan has been adopted, the _SHIFT tag seems to be headed the way of the manual transmission. Brian Carolin, marketing director of Nissan Europe, said in an interview in Geneva that Nissan's image in Europe is "rather flat." While there are products at the top and bottom of the range that are doing very well, the core midsize vehicles are a bit lackluster. So rather than trying to position themselves as a full range alternative to Honda and Toyota, Nissan might try focusing on their strengths.
The company is hoping that new products, such as the Qashqai crossover, X-Trail and Navarra will continue to give them a strong presence in the light truck segment, and the Micra already has them at the head of the class in small cars, so a new tagline that reinforces those segments might serve Nissan better than _SHIFT. Perhaps _LIFT for the trucks? _THRIFT for the Micra? _DRIFT for the Z? Take a seat, we've got millions of them, folks.
[Source: Wards Auto]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jro @ Mar 13th 2007 3:34PM
Is it just me or is the tagline actually SHIFT_
felipe @ Mar 13th 2007 3:49PM
no its
SHI_T
and they are using it or the new sentra!
Seabass @ Mar 13th 2007 3:54PM
I second that motion and say the new slogan should be SHIT_.
Bryan @ Mar 13th 2007 4:08PM
I 3rd that motion. Such POS's.
Howard Kerr @ Mar 13th 2007 4:35PM
Well, I have no recent experience with any Nissan product, my last one was a 1992 Infiniti G20. However, it is kind of odd that Nissan chooses to emphasis the word SHIFT...just as they are going bigtime to shiftless transmissions. And CVTs to boot.
fizzandpop @ Mar 13th 2007 4:45PM
Late nights and brown trousers at Chiat Day then.
SickManSeth @ Mar 13th 2007 5:24PM
Right. the new marketing campaign will be called
BORING__________ and reflect the Soulless Front engine,Front wheel Drive,Automatic transmission having,Low build quality,overpriced,overstyled,underfeatured piles of shit that people are eating up in the new altima and sentra. God i just want to choke out carlos ghosn or however you say his name. Where did my passion go?? to a 23 year old BOW TIE with a blown T-5 and a 305 that's about to toss an everything.
Tom @ Mar 13th 2007 5:54PM
This is what gets me about car companies...are they really that clueless? Anyone could have told Nissan that SHIFT was not catchy or memorable.
I mean did Nissan think they had something along the lines of Zoom Zoom or Have You Driven A Ford, Lately?
Bob R. @ Mar 13th 2007 6:38PM
Tom, I wish Ford would bring back the "Have You Driven a Fird Lately" slogan back or the "Quality Is Job #1" slogan, because this time it is true!
Jonathan Hicks @ Mar 13th 2007 6:48PM
Nissan should not drop the SHIFT_ tagline in North America. Really. It is one of best automotive taglines to me. Don't drop it, Nissan North America.
Sherief @ Mar 13th 2007 6:53PM
Whatever happened to their old tagline "Built for the human race."?
adelossa @ Mar 13th 2007 7:01PM
Honda and Toyota offers cheap reliable vehicles, while Mazda adds some sportiness to their cars. What does Mitsubishi and Nissan "offer"?
far jr @ Mar 13th 2007 10:25PM
Toyota and Honda don't fit the "cheap" vehicles part as well as Hyundai/ Kia.
Nissan has made its SHIFT. Now it is time to move on...
They SHIFTed to Renualt control.
They SHIFTed from California to Tennessee.
The SHIFTed to mid-pack styling and performance.
Bill @ Mar 13th 2007 11:19PM
All of you ignorant a--holes will eat your words when the GT-R arrives.
Must be a lot of Krautheads who are jealous of the products and improved sales of Nissan/Infiniti posting here.
Many auto company taglines are senseless: e.g., "Drivers Wanted" = how stupid is that.
Chet @ Mar 14th 2007 1:59AM
SHIFT_ sucked when the introduced it, and it continues to suck today. What does it mean? Poor choice, poorly executed.
big L @ Mar 14th 2007 10:28AM
Nissan_MIFFED...
/not your grandfather's DATSUN
Raúl @ Mar 14th 2007 12:17PM
@Bill:
Hey, don't insult the "Drivers wanted" tagline! It's pretty damn straightforward! I mean... if they need drivers it must mean that the cars aren't moving (aka selling)...
Haha. Straightforward... don't you think?
Justin @ Mar 15th 2007 10:04AM
I'm with #15...this ad campaign never appealed to me.