Penske Automotive Group Inc. (PAG) has been recently awarded the Nissan and Infiniti dealerships in the downtown San Francisco market. The dealership locations, as awarded by Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (NSANY), is expected to be suitably located in a 195,000 square foot complex, thus representing one of the largest automobile retailing locations in the United States.
The facility, fully renovated and well equipped with state-of-the-art sales, service, and parts operations as well as an on-site paint and collision-repair center, is scheduled to be operational by the end of the current year. Going further, the facility has been planned to incorporate multiple levels of indoor vehicle storage, separate brand showrooms and a square footage.
Both Nissan and Infiniti have undertaken aggressive business expansion plans. The opening of these new dealerships, as a part of this plan, is believed to swell Nissan and Infiniti’s sales and market share gains in the U.S. market. So far, Nissan and Infiniti together reached an all-time record market share of 9.3%, up from 7.8% at the end of 2010. Moreover, the Infiniti brand was the fastest-growing import luxury brand in 2010 with a 28% gain in sales.
In addition, the location of the dealerships has been so chosen as to capitalize on the growing opportunities in the west coast market, which constitute one of the most important global markets for both Nissan and Infiniti. According to Nissan, San Francisco is one of the potential markets for both Infiniti brand vehicles and Nissan itself, especially for zero-emission vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and other similar products.
Not only the West Coast market in the U.S., Nissan has a strong presence in entire North America where the company is engaged in automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. With the new responsibility, Penske is determined to reach out to a wider customer base, thus enhancing the market share of each brand while providing a high level of enhanced customer service and satisfaction.
NISSAN ADR (NSANY): Free Stock Analysis Report
PENSKE AUTO GRP (PAG): Free Stock Analysis Report
Zacks Investment Research