The auto market is struggling to get back to the pace it was a few years ago and automakers are constantly trying new approaches to connect with new potential customers. Nissan is now expanding its rental program with the addition of a product called SignatureFLEX, which offers customers a 5,000-mile annual lease deal. The program was developed by Nissan Motor Acceptance and is currently available for the company’s three high-riding models.
SignatureFLEX started with the Rogue, Rogue Sport, and Pathfinder in the United States, but more Nissan models are expected to be added early next year. The 5,000 mile threshold can be changed to more miles if the customer needs it throughout the life of the contract, Automotive News report. With high gas prices and home office trends, it’s increasingly difficult for consumers to predict their driving needs over the next three years when they start a lease.
Last year, Nissan launched a 10,000-mile-a-year lease program, which quickly became the most popular contract among new customers. In 2020, Japanese companies also had 12,000-mile leases, which accounted for about 67 percent of new car rentals for the year. Now, Nissan sees great potential in lower mileage lease deals after analysis of customer data from Nissan Motor Acceptance.
NMAC is currently training its dealer employees to help customers decide whether the new 5,000-mile rental program is the right choice for them. Jim DeTrude, NMAC vice president of sales and marketing, said: Automotive News dealers of the brand reported that their customers wanted a lower mileage option and that motivated the company to launch the new SignatureFLEX program.
“I prefer the term to align with their driving habits and not where they actually incur additional costs versus designing a lease initially with a term of 10,000 or 12,000 miles that better suits their needs,” De Trude told the publication. “This is a great option for someone who doesn’t need a lot of miles but also wants flexibility during the lease term rather than at the end of the lease term.”
