Nissan celebrates as NP200 keeps Rosslyn plant humming

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• NP200 is crowned as South Africa’;s favourite half-ton bakkie


• 17 412 NP200 bakkies sold in 2014


• Market leadership follows glowing 2014 Kinsey Report and Ipsos Quality Award

Rosslyn, South Africa, 2 FEBRUARY 2015 – Nissan South Africa is celebrating the overwhelming success of its NP200 pickup after final national sales figures for 2014 reported that it had reached a full-year market share of 52.2% for the half ton pickup market.

The NP200′s market share dominance reached as high as 65.4% in November last year and is a fitting end to a successful year for the locally produced pickup. Last year, comprehensive 12 month market research by Ipsos noted that the NP200 had the best vehicle quality in its segment, based on feedback from both business and leisure NP200 customers.

Ipsos South Africa’;s quality accolade was followed late last year by a firm endorsement in the annual Kinsey Report, in which journalist and researcher Malcolm Kinsey calculated the cost of maintenance and repairs of different vehicles and vehicle segments.

In the 2014 Kinsey Report, the NP200 is singled out as the most affordable single cab pickup to own and maintain, beating its nearest rival, the Nissan NP300 Hardbody, in the bakkie-segment. The NP200 also beat all the entry-level vehicles in the passenger vehicle segment to be crowned the most affordable vehicle to maintain overall.

The NP200 replaced the well-loved Nissan 1400 after this locally adapted workhorse reached the end of its production life cycle in 2008. By that time, the 1400 had earned a place in South African culture and a parking bay in the global Nissan museum in Japan. Since taking over the reins, the modern NP200 has doubled its sales volume every year for the first 4 years before reaching a peak in 2014 with monthly sales of more than twice that achieved by the 1400.

“The NP200 has proven itself worthy of the Nissan pickup badge. It offers a wide range of engines, while the range of derivatives means that it comfortably straddles the workhorse and leisure markets. The class-leading payload of 800 kg adds to its workhorse capabilities. We look forward to strong sales in 2015 as the demand for our reliable and affordable sub-1 ton pickups grows,” says Konstantin von Vieregge, General Manager: Marketing and Planning.

Nissan celebrates as NP200 keeps Rosslyn plant humming

Toyota keeps it simple, makes it clever with new U2 Concept

Calty design studio creates a vehicle inspired by America’;s new urban DIY movement

While Toyota is preparing to dazzle visitors to the Paris Motor Show with the C-HR compact SUV concept, on the other side of the pond Toyota’;s Calty design studio in California has come up another new breed of SUV – the Urban Utility concept car or U².

With “do-it-yourself” enjoying a big revival in American cities, where a new kind of entrepreneur is taking a can-do approach to urban regeneration, Toyota’;s Calty design studio has researched the movement by speaking to people attending the hugely popular Maker Faires across the country and has used their views to help create the U² concept.

The U² has an open architecture and is made from robust materials that reflect a no-nonsense urban style. It has practicality built-in, with a roll-back roof and a tailgate that can be folded down to create a ramp. A rail system makes it easy for owners to customise the interior just the way they want it.

Kevin Hunter, Calty President, said: “Toyota saw an opportunity for a new approach to an urban vehicle, based on the increasing re-urbanisation of our cities, and on urban drivers’; desire for flexibility, fun and manoeuvrability.

“Calty keeps a number of projects concealed while it explores ideas and projects. Revealing something like the U² gives people a window onto the constant innovation that is happening inside Toyota and our studios, and a possible future vision for urban mobility.”

Customisable interior

The Calty team conceived U² as a flexible, functional gadget, drawing their inspiration from modern entrepreneurship and Americans’; traditional love of adventure and outdoor pursuits that involve plenty of gear and equipment. It needed to be easily adaptable for individual on-the-go needs, witnessed in details such as a retractable utility bar that can do anything from hold a desk to provide hooks for shopping bags. The side windows flip up, so it’;s easy to reach in from the roadside.

Other highlights include: -

• Folding, removable front passenger seat


• Fold-up rear seats


• New shift design with an intuitive switch for park, drive and reverse


• New colour and trim material choices

Toyota research found the fast-growing market for small SUVs seeks greater usefulness, but a smaller vehicle footprint. U² is the size of a compact car, but has the functionality of a traditional pick-up and the spaciousness of a cargo van. It also answers other urban driver priorities in delivering good fuel economy and being easy to manoeuvre, load and unload.

Exterior designed for city life

City streets call for a vehicle that can deal with bumper-to-traffic, potholes and tight turns. Toyota’;s U² concept tackles these demands with a highly durable underbody and bodywork that’;s tough as a hand tool and which comes with customisable side panels. The look is modern and characterful, too, evident in details such as the slightly chunky proportions and circular door handles.

Exterior highlights include: -

• Retracting roof panels


• Opening rear glass that slides into the tailgate


• Drop-down tailgate that forms a load ramp


• Replaceable protective ridges on the tailgate

Appropriately, U² makes its public debut at the World Maker Faire which is currently being held in New York.

Toyota keeps it simple, makes it clever with new U2 Concept

Toyota keeps it simple, makes it clever with new U2 Concept

Calty design studio creates a vehicle inspired by America’;s new urban DIY movement

While Toyota is preparing to dazzle visitors to the Paris Motor Show with the C-HR compact SUV concept, on the other side of the pond Toyota’;s Calty design studio in California has come up another new breed of SUV – the Urban Utility concept car or U².

With “do-it-yourself” enjoying a big revival in American cities, where a new kind of entrepreneur is taking a can-do approach to urban regeneration, Toyota’;s Calty design studio has researched the movement by speaking to people attending the hugely popular Maker Faires across the country and has used their views to help create the U² concept.

The U² has an open architecture and is made from robust materials that reflect a no-nonsense urban style. It has practicality built-in, with a roll-back roof and a tailgate that can be folded down to create a ramp. A rail system makes it easy for owners to customise the interior just the way they want it.

Kevin Hunter, Calty President, said: “Toyota saw an opportunity for a new approach to an urban vehicle, based on the increasing re-urbanisation of our cities, and on urban drivers’; desire for flexibility, fun and manoeuvrability.

“Calty keeps a number of projects concealed while it explores ideas and projects. Revealing something like the U² gives people a window onto the constant innovation that is happening inside Toyota and our studios, and a possible future vision for urban mobility.”

Customisable interior

The Calty team conceived U² as a flexible, functional gadget, drawing their inspiration from modern entrepreneurship and Americans’; traditional love of adventure and outdoor pursuits that involve plenty of gear and equipment. It needed to be easily adaptable for individual on-the-go needs, witnessed in details such as a retractable utility bar that can do anything from hold a desk to provide hooks for shopping bags. The side windows flip up, so it’;s easy to reach in from the roadside.

Other highlights include: -

• Folding, removable front passenger seat


• Fold-up rear seats


• New shift design with an intuitive switch for park, drive and reverse


• New colour and trim material choices

Toyota research found the fast-growing market for small SUVs seeks greater usefulness, but a smaller vehicle footprint. U² is the size of a compact car, but has the functionality of a traditional pick-up and the spaciousness of a cargo van. It also answers other urban driver priorities in delivering good fuel economy and being easy to manoeuvre, load and unload.

Exterior designed for city life

City streets call for a vehicle that can deal with bumper-to-traffic, potholes and tight turns. Toyota’;s U² concept tackles these demands with a highly durable underbody and bodywork that’;s tough as a hand tool and which comes with customisable side panels. The look is modern and characterful, too, evident in details such as the slightly chunky proportions and circular door handles.

Exterior highlights include: -

• Retracting roof panels


• Opening rear glass that slides into the tailgate


• Drop-down tailgate that forms a load ramp


• Replaceable protective ridges on the tailgate

Appropriately, U² makes its public debut at the World Maker Faire which is currently being held in New York.

Toyota keeps it simple, makes it clever with new U2 Concept