Nissan bares ‘Blue Switch’ initiative for PH

After regaining its number-three position in terms of local market share last year, Nissan Philippines is fully charged up with their plans for sustainability for 2022.

During the virtual event, the local arm for the Japanese automaker announced that it will be employing the Blue Switch initiative in the country.

The company explained that the Blue Switch is the next phase of its electrification plans built on Nissan Ambition 2030, the company's long-term vision for empowering mobility by boosting its aim of becoming a sustainable company that drives towards a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive world.

Started in Japan in 2018, Blue Switch is focused on building key partnerships that address social concerns with the use of electric vehicle (EV) technologies. This program is focused on partnering with government and private stakeholders to promote and encourage the use of EV to address social concerns like energy management, ecotourism and disaster response.

Gracing the event to express their support were Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival, Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines President Edmund Araga, Electric Vehicle Owners Society President Ferdinand Raquelsantos and Gateway Group of Companies (the exclusive distributor of Nissan Leaf in the Philippines) Executive Vice President Michael Goho. 

The abovementioned personalities discussed at the event the potential benefits of electrified mobility and how it can be successfully integrated into society while addressing social concerns in the areas of tourism, the environment, and emergency response.

This was recently demonstrated following the aftermath of Typhoon Odette that ravaged Cebu and Tacloban. In Cebu, Nissan and Archival used the Nissan Leaf and Power Mover units while in Tacloban, a similar initiative was done in partnership with the local Nissan dealership there.

The electric car from Nissan features vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology that was able to provide electricity from its battery — allowing residents to charge their mobile devices and contact loved ones.

Nissan Philippines also brought the Nissan Leaf in Boracay as part of its  Safe Trips campaign, which has evolved to also advocate for ecotourism and to encourage sustainability through adapting more eco-friendly options such as using electric vehicles as a mode of transportation. In addition to continuous knowledge building and sharing in the market about EVs and its technology, Nissan also aims to raise awareness on its other practical benefits and uses.

“When we integrate EV technology into society, we can unify people, systems, and our goals as a nation. EVs can boost tourism, protect the environment, help us respond to emergencies faster, and help enrich the lives of many people. We are looking to turn this dream into reality this 2022 and we can do this by working together,” Nissan Philippines President and Managing Director Atsushi Najima said.

Also, Nissan Philippines recently celebrated its milestones in 2021 in the same event.

“The year 2021 was a tough time for the entire industry, but despite the challenges we faced, we're grateful that Filipinos continue to trust Nissan with their mobility needs. This has inspired us to continue our mission of enriching the lives of people with our innovative vehicles and top-notch customer service,” Najima said.

Initiating the transformative year for Nissan are the launches of the Navara, Leaf, Terra, Almera and Patrol. These are all headlined by the marque’s technological innovations, led by the Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM).

NIM is a suite of advanced safety features designed to provide convenience and protection for both drivers and passengers on the road.

The arrival of the much-anticipated Nissan Leaf also helped in pushing for safer, smarter, and more sustainable driving in the Philippines. To note, the Nissan Leaf is the world's first mass-market EV.

Nissan took the third position from its competitors last year towards the second half of 2021.

Apart from that, Nissan also renewed its Safe Trips campaign with the Department of Tourism (DOT) — an initiative that advocates for safe and responsible travel in the new normal through driving while promoting local businesses that have also been battered by the challenges caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Lastly, Nissan also conducted outreach programs. Over the course of the pandemic, the automaker supported medical frontliners by providing thousands of meal packs and personal protective equipment.

Photos from Nissan Philippines

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