Nissan Motor Co.'s product overhaul has transformed the automaker's U.S. lineup from the industry's oldest to among the newest.
The product renaissance, which included redesigns of the core models such as the Rogue and Pathfinder, has lifted consumer and dealer interest in the struggling Japanese brand.
Meanwhile, rising dealer profitability and a pullback from aggressive sales programs have brightened dealer-factory relations.
"Nissan dealers are bullish on the franchise," Tyler Slade, Nissan National Dealer Advisory Board chairman, told Automotive News. "We are seeing long-term-minded sales policies, rather than short-term shots-in-the-arm that damage the brand."
But the optimism of the past couple of years could evaporate as the economy turns.