ETCM shall consider to launch Nissan Note e-Power in Malaysia. Agree?

Nissan Note is a B-segment supermini, also known as mini MPV, where are popular in Europe and Japan, the first generation inspired Livina actually. Now, it is second generation with codename E12.  This car is sold in Japan, Hong Kong , Singapore and Europe (replaced by Micra since 2017). In America, it is known as Versa Note. Oceania including Australia and New Zealand don't get Nissan Note.

In Malaysia, Nissan Note was used to be exhibited at Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show in 2013 as exploratory model by ETCM (Edaran Tan Chong Motor; Nissan Malaysia official distributor), even there was a headline to report that ETCM will launch Nissan Note in Malaysia somewhere end of 2014 or Q1 2015. In addition, according to Paul Tan's Automotive News, there was also having spyshots of Nissan Note where get caught on Malaysia roads, but unfortunately, the launching of Nissan Note was not happened in Malaysia.

In the past, I highly expected Nissan Note could replace ageing Livina X-Gear in Malaysia. Unfortunately, it did not work, even I also expected there was long-wheelbase Note E12 to replace Grand Livina too.

While Note is already discontinued in Europe now and replaced by newly-launched Nissan Micra K14 (aka March), but recently Nissan Note E12 becomes "hot-cakes" in Japan because of e-Power hybrid technology without plug-in EV charger.

Now Nissan Note is focusing Asia markets with facelift version since 2016, the Asia market coverage of Nissan Note is expanded to Thailand, India, and Singapore. Before the facelift, Nissan Note E12 Asia coverage is Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore only, now it is expanded widely. While our neighboring countries Singapore and Thailand receive Nissan Note without e-Power technology, but why doesn't Malaysia have this fantastic car?

At KLIMS 2013, Nissan Note was exhibited, but it received 1500 cc HR15DE engine where same as its siblings Almera, but I believed Nissan Note was not launched here due to higher price if powered 1500cc engine, even Toyota Yaris did not work well here.

Now, Nissan Note is added with e-Power hybrid technology since November 2016. According to the performance database of e-Power, it has better fuel consumption and power output than an ordinary NA engine (2000cc). e-Power is an unique hybrid from Nissan actually, it is better than conventional hybrid due to higher output motor.

India and Indonesia are testing Nissan Note e-Power, expected to be on sale around 2018 or 2019, following by Singapore, and Thailand. It is unknown to tell that Nissan Australia and New Zealand will bring Note e-Hybrid or not after they withdrew all sedans and hatchbacks from their line-up in 2017.

I found that ETCM had withdrawn a lot of Nissan models from its lineup in Malaysia such as Sylphy, Teana, X-Gear due to poor sales from 2016 till now, leaves Almera, X-Trail, Serena, Grand Livina and Navara as their current line-up. Nissan had weak sales in Malaysia during 2015, 2016, 2017 and first quarter of 2018. In 2018, there is a news to report that Nissan would launch 3 new models in Malaysia, mainly Serena, Kicks and 2nd generation Leaf, but Nissan Serana S-Hybrid launched first around May 2018. According to Paul Tan's Automotive News, the news reported that ETCM is planning to bring Nissan e-Power in to Malaysia, so I do hope Note e-Power will be added in Nissan Malaysia lineup. Other than Note, Nissan Serena C27 can be featured with e-Power here in the future. In order to boost back the sales of Nissan in Malaysia, ETCM shall launch Nissan Note e-Power in Malaysia, so this can attract young buyers.

While Nissan Almera is heavily aged and no new generation is debuted yet, ETCM shall consider to launch Note in Malaysia to boost the sales of Nissan B-segment vehicles.

Malaysia actually can have Nissan Note e-Power. If ETCM launches CKD local assembly Note e-Power in Malaysia, ETCM can get tax exemption from government due to hybrid vehicle, even Nissan Note e-Power can be recognized as EEV (Energy Efficient Vehicle) by Malaysia government. This can end monopoly of Honda Jazz Hybrid in Malaysia, also can compete with Ford Fiesta, Mazda 2 and upcoming Toyota Yaris.

Nissan Note e-Power is powered by HR12DE engine with EM57 electric motor.