It's not easy for customers to pay $50 or $100 more a month, he said.
"Some people just can't," Papin said. Nissan understood that and sought solutions for them, he said.
But Nissan also has been aggressive in targeting segments of customers it historically has been less successful in capturing, according to Papin.
And it's seeing results, he said.
The automaker has experienced a "spike" in household income for buyers of many newer models. It has also observed growth in customer credit scores "without us being tighter," Papin said.
Nissan's products are delivering a new customer base, he said.
