In an industry where change has been know to happen without warning, the unbending commitment of Cockram Nissan stands out as a model for success.

Cockram Nissan was one of a group of six businesses that started as franchise dealers for Datsun cars back in the early 1960s. Today it is currently the number one Nissan dealer in the South Island and deals solely in Nissan – a benefit to their customers as their devotion to the marque and high volume levels gives them greater experience and knowledge, more so than anyone else.

Alistair Hazeldine, Dealer Principal, says the major change in the business over the years has been the emphasis on after-sales service and support. "Historically we've seen dealerships put their Sales staff out the front, and the Parts and Service people out the back, when it should be the other way around. Buying a new car or a near-new car can be an exciting purchase, but it's not what happens on day one that's really important - it's what happens a week, a month or a year down the track."

"Our goal is to have our customers come back and update their Nissan several times, even if it's over 40 years."

Quality products are a key, but so too is the expertise of a staff who are loyal to the brand. Cockram Nissan has a number of long-serving staff, reflecting the company's commitment to supporting the people who work with the customers.

Cockram Nissan has six operating divisions covering everything from New & Used vehicle Sales, Parts & Service, to Finance and Insurance. The company's central city site, on the corner of Moorhouse Ave and Manchester Street, is about to undergo a makeover in line with new global strategy which will feature a stylish open-plan customer lounge, complete with a café and a high-tech entertainment system, all designed to make dealing with Cockram Nissan an even more pleasant experience.

Success in Business

"Sustainable success in business comes through doing the right things at a consistently high level for a long period" Alistair Hazeldine says. "The Dealerships success isn't just measured in the number of new vehicles we sell all around the South Island – it's the combined results of the Sales, Service, Parts and Finance & Insurance Departments.

Fuel consumption

In New Zealand, Nissan dealers use the independent technical expertise of the Automobile Association to carry out "real world" fuel consumption testing on all of the vehicles in the Nissan range (see www.nissan.co.nz).

Coveted Award for Sports Coupe

Nissan's world beating sports coupe, the 350Z, is continuing to win accolades. The latest award is a NBR's Sports Car of the Year for 2007. The Z is available in more than 95 countries and has sold around 1.6 million units worldwide since its initial release in 1969. The current fifth-generation Z (Z33 model) alone has sold a total of 160,000 units globally. Previous awards include a Car of the Year Award from the hosts of the BBC's "Top Gear." To find out more about the range of Z cars available at Cockram Nissan see www.cockramnissan.co.nz or Phone 03 366 2644.