Nissan Opens School for SUV Owners
October 31, 2008 by Tsikot
Twenty members from Club X, an organization of X-Trail enthusiasts, had their own day on October 25 at the SUV Safety School and graduated with honors. Their participation brings to a total of over 60 graduates of this off-road safety-driving course—the first of its kind in the country.
“We are thankful for the commitment and the opportunity for our club and for all X-Trail owners with the SUV Safety School,” says Ken Lim Uy, president of Club X. “No manufacturer we know has done something of this scope or magnitude for their customers. We thank Nissan Motor Philippines Inc. for providing this special day for Club X.”
For Raymond Tribdino, senior manager and group head of marketing and sales at Nissan Motor Philippines Inc. (NMPI), the “immense” turnout of Club X members was “quite emotional for me.”
“Club X is a solid group of individuals, not only devoted to their X-Trail’s but also very much into camaraderie for community service. The members are from very diverse backgrounds, ranging from finance to restaurateurs brought together by their passion for the open road and for their X-Trails.”
It was a literal beauty pageant of X-Trails at the Nissan Sta. Rosa plant, as club members drove in ceremoniously from their meeting place along the South Luzon Expressway. Club X was organized in 2004, about a year after the X-Trail was introduced. The club boasts of nearly 100 active members and a forum size in the thousands.
Hermie Lim, services manager at GE Medical Division, lauded the SUV Safety School as a “touch point,” wherein “Nissan can keep in touch with its customers.” Lim believes that it is important to keep momentum efforts to enhance a connection to the customers.
Tribdino agreed with this conclusion but says that the big important difference is that the SUV Safety School adds another dimension. “The sensitivity training we provide to X-Trail owners goes beyond their vehicles. The lessons can be applied whatever car one is driving in relation to the terrain or condition one is driving in,” explained Tribdino.
“The track was easy because I had confidence in the X-Trail,” said Angie Go, whose husband, Garrick, is a restaurateur. “But, at first, I thought that the X-Trail could not survive the track, because it was so very extreme. I was pleasantly surprised it did and in comfort, too.”
Go and Sharlene Tansiongkun were the two ladies who bravely took the course and graduated with a certification.
The SUV Safety Driving School is inspired by similar motorsports parks found in Japan, the United States and Europe. “It was a totally insane idea and we love it,” agreed all members of Club X. Members had to traverse obstacles designed for bigger 4×4 vehicles, crossing treacherous log bridges, driving on a 45-degree camber and taking up to 28 inches of water on a compact sport-utility vehicle. “It was awesome how the X-Trail was taking the course with style and amazing comfort,” they said.
Tribdino explained that the original concept began as an off-road track to be built for customers in its plant where they can test their X-Trails in a safe and controlled course—much like Nissan’s motorsports park in Japan. “Eventually, the concept of formalizing the off-road experience was encouraged by Nissan’s global safety program,” said Tribdino, who led this SUV School project.
“This is NMPI’s translation of the Safety Shield—not only by vehicle safety technologies but also by making better drivers. By teaching X-Trail owners to become better drivers, we contribute not only to improving the driving experience but also providing a totally different safety perspective,” he said. “This project is just the beginning of more safety-related activities for Nissan vehicle owners.”
For more information about the SUV Safety School, send an SMS to 0922-4483495 or ask your nearest Nissan dealer for details. You may also e-mail info@nissan.com.ph. Next class of the SUV Safety School is on November 8. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Link to this Article
Loading ...
Comments
Feel free to leave a comment...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!