Nissan Korea says it really isn’t going anywhere

Nissan Korea said Monday that it will not withdraw from Korea, refuting earlier rumors that the automaker is likely to leave due to faltering sales.

Nissan, along with other Japan-based automakers, has been struggling in the Korean market, affected by the continued trade conflicts between Seoul and Tokyo.

According to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association, Nissan sold 58 cars in August, plummeting 74.6 percent in sales compared to the previous month and 87.4 percent on year. Sales of all Japanese cars in the domestic market dropped 57 percent year-on-year to 1,398 units from 3,247 units in August.

“It is true that Nissan is facing a difficult situation where we must optimize our business structure,” Nissan Korea said in a statement on Monday. “However, we want to make it clear that we will continue our activities in Korea, which is strategically an important market for us.”

The automaker said that it will overcome the difficulties by restructuring its business and maintained that it will continue offering quality products and services to its customers, even while restructuring goes on.

Last month, when Nissan Korea introduced its new Maxima sedan to the Korean market, its CEO Huh Sung-joong said the launch shows the company’s devotion to do its best to serve its Korean customers.

BY KIM JEE-HEE [kim.jeehee@joongang.co.kr]