Nissan’s performance in the region hasn’t been the best for some years and the surprising saviour could come in the form of Tan Chong Motor Holdings (TCMH), the franchise holder of the marque here, as it will be exporting the locally assembled Nissan Serena S-Hybrid C27 to Thailand.
To be clear, the Nissan Serena C27 is actually the “old” fifth-generation model. The model sold up north will be similar to the variant available here, with a 2.0-litre mild-hybrid setup and a CVT to the front wheels. It will also include Nissan Intelligent Mobility’s of driving assistance tech such as forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and rear cross-traffic alert.
Assembly of the Serena C27 in Malaysia is done at TCMH’s subsidiary, Tan Chong Motor Assemblers (TCMA) plant in Serendah, Selangor. It will be exempted from import taxes when exported to Thailand.
The Serena C27 is reportedly assembled with 40% of Malaysian-sourced content, and the move to export it will introduce more jobs for the local manufacturing sector as well as strengthen the Ringgit.
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During the launch of the Serena C27 by Nissan Motor Thailand, the new Nissan Serena e-Power C28 was also previewed. The Series-hybrid e-Power drivetrain uses a petrol engine as a generator to run the electric motor that turns the wheels, delivering a driving experience similar to an electric vehicle.
The Serena has no direct competitor in its class, being the only sliding-door MPV in its class and has given confidence to Thai Nissan dealers that it will sell well.
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Once the Serena e-Power C28 makes its way to the region next year, expect it to continue being assembled in Malaysia and be exported to Thailand. Pre-production units have already been spotted doing road tests here in Malaysia.
With the Nissan Kicks e-Power due for launch here very soon, Tan Chong Motors might also preview the Serena e-Power C28 at next the upcoming KL International Motor Show (KLIMS).
