The struggling Japanese automaker said it sold just 15,111 vehicles last month in the world’s biggest auto market as demand for the Sylphy sedans and X-Trail and Qashqai crossovers continued to tumble amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Onerous regulations have held up big projects Germany, but officials have assured the automaker of quick navigation through the country’s notorious bureaucracy.
The Chinese city, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, accounts for nearly 10 percent of vehicles made in the country and is home to hundreds of parts suppliers. Non-essential factories there remain on lockdown at least until Wednesday.
The brand has joined German rival Mercedes-Benz in scaling back its EV product rollout in the world’s second-largest auto market.
Slumping dealer profitability, pricey electrification and the digitalization of auto retail has some luxury automakers rethinking big-budget facility upgrades.