Nissan Australia wants "intelligence" on grey-imported GT-Rs
One of the few problems with being the purveyors of a highly desired commodity is that people will do anything to get their hands on it, sometimes before you're willing to give it to them. Such is the case with Nissan and people importing GT-R's into Australia through the "grey-market."
A supposedly leaked memo from Nissan Australia to dealers Down Under requests that they keep an eye out for grey-market GT-Rs and to send in a tip to Nissan HQ reporting the "potential damage" and "stolen customers" that the vehicles are apparently causing. While we understand that Nissan is trying to protect sales, the fact remains that if the GT-R was obtained through legal means, there's not much they can do about it. And we highly doubt that many of Nissan's potential customers are going to go through the hassle of importing a GT-R when sales are expected to being in the early part of 2009.
[Source: GTRBlog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Level 5:29PM (3/14/2008)
Hurts sales?
why Nissan didnt just offer the GT-R to everyone at the same time? simple solution....
Reply
SPG 5:31PM (3/14/2008)
I love seeing grey market Citroen XM's in Canada.
Keep the "Grey market" alive.
Reply
MoonRover 6:51PM (3/14/2008)
I just really do not like the looks of that car, it doesn't look the price, the design looks helter skelter.
Reply
AcePilot 8:09PM (3/14/2008)
The design might be "helter skelter" as you put it, but this car is a beast and real car enthusiasts know it!
That being said, Nissan Australia is damn out of it's mind telling people to snitch on grey market customers to Nissan HQ....and then what????? This crap is just too comical to comprehend.
castro7 10:01AM (3/15/2008)
If nissan australia are upset about losing customers maybe they should meet the demand with some supply...
For years now its been the case that the australian delivered nissans are a bit lacking compared to the japanese tuned... And imports are the way to go, especially with the skylines.. which have been unavailable here since the early 90s?
Reply
steveo391 9:49PM (3/14/2008)
I think nissan is the ones who are out of their minds. Their being way to strict about this ugly piece of junk. When will they realize that after somebody buys the car from them their isn't anything else they can do about. Stupid just plain stupid.
Reply
blogreader 5:34AM (3/15/2008)
Typical greedy, protectionistic Aust. car companies, try that in NZ and they would quickly find themselve sin front of the Commerce Commission. The first R35 GTR's arrived in NZ a few weeks ago, priced from $145-165K NZD.
Reply
Dustin 10:26PM (3/16/2008)
"stolen customers" ???! It's a F*%$#n nissan!
It's not like it's a replica or something. Nissan is still getting paid for it.
Reply
Garrie John 12:18PM (3/25/2008)
M/Benz did this in the 1978/1980 got with the feds and heavied small importers as I was, mainly 350/450 Sl /SlCmodels . I could bring cars in at 1/2 the money landed on the street We were threatened and did get a hard time . Manufacturers will take you on, and is somewhat typical of Aus gov red or blue ,will back them . Keep them on their toes good luck guys.
Reply
stealth 10:47AM (4/07/2008)
I really don't think the Grey market should be considered a problem. They should be happy there is enough interest in the vehicle for people to want to obtain it before its' even released over there. It really looks like it must be a blast to drive, if only I could afford it.
Heres a video review on the 2009 GTR: http://vidxc.com/media/45503/3/1
Reply