Bruehl, Germany – Nissan has today announced the conclusion of an agreement with Bergé Auto for the distribution of new vehicles, parts and services in Switzerland.
Nissan is also confirming its intention to partner with the same importer for the Austrian market. For now, the agreement for Austria is taking the shape of a Letter of Intent and the parties will likely conclude the final contract in the coming weeks.
As part of the Nissan NEXT mid-term plan, Nissan is transforming into a leaner, agile, more focused and profit-oriented company. This announcement will boost business performance, while improving customer and dealer satisfaction in both markets. Furthermore it will enable Nissan to place more focus on the operations in Germany, where the automaker will continue with its business as before.
"This decision follows an extensive analysis of our operations in the RBU Nissan Center Europe markets. It is designed to improve our performance as well as to serve better the needs of our customers in Austria and Switzerland.
Bergé Auto has a proven track record in the automotive distribution business in Europe and we are pleased to have them on board as a partner. We are working closely with them in the best interests of our customers, employees and dealers in the region," said Guillaume Pelletreau, Managing Director of the RBU Nissan Center Europe. "This significant change in our regional structure will enable us to refocus our operations in Germany. It paves the way to put the spotlight needed on this competitive market and address challenges ahead."
Jorge Navea, CEO of Bergé Auto, added: "It is with great satisfaction that Bergé Auto has signed an agreement with a leading company like Nissan, reinforcing our growth strategy in Europe. With a strong focus in Switzerland and Austria there is no doubt that we will increase our market share, offering a diversified portfolio of mobility products and services (ownership, subscription, B2B/B2C, and new digital channels). We are fully committed to drive long-term growth for the brand and dealers, allowing the company to interact with customers along the whole customer journey."
The announcement has been communicated today to Nissan employees and dealers in the affected markets. Subject to approval by the Swiss Competition Commission, the start of operations of the new organization is scheduled for February 2022 in Switzerland. For Austria, Nissan is working to finalize the contract in the coming weeks and the transfer of operations will follow shortly after the transfer of the Swiss operation is completed.
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About Berge Auto
Bergé Auto is a strong and looking forward automotive distribution and mobility services group, with a presence in 14 countries to distribute 29 car brands with a strong position in LATAM and Europe, including operations in Spain, Portugal, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, BENELUX, Germany, and Poland. Selling yearly over 200.000 cars and a turnover of 4 billion €, Berge Auto builds a meaningful, long-lasting relationship with customers. Having sound international expertise and a broad understanding of the mobility sector delivers innovative tailor-made solutions for every brand and market. Recognizing the global trend towards a more customer-led economy in the current digital environment, we are committed to pursuing new business ventures resulting from this unique scenario.