Nissan Launches Dealership Makeover in Japan

Nissan dealer in Saitama

Nissan Motor Co. plans to spend 30 billion yen ($249 million) to upgrade or rebuild 1,800 of its 2,100 dealerships in Japan, according to The Nikkei, which cites no sources.

The program is expected to be completed by March 2016 and will cover about 80% of the company's domestic outlets. About 1,000 dealerships will be fitted with improved showroom lighting and large digital billboards.

Nissan also will expand its retail sales force in Japan by 15% to 14,000, according to The Nikkei. The newspaper says only about 30% of the company's domestic sales are conquests from other brands. Nissan hopes to increase that ratio in a bid to hike domestic sales to 750,000 units in fiscal 2016.