* Gardena-based Nissan Motor Corp. USA, stepping...

* Gardena-based Nissan Motor Corp. USA, stepping up the auto industry price wars, said it is cutting prices 5% on its 1999 Frontier pickup trucks and Sentra cars. The U.S. unit of Japan’s Nissan Motor Co. said the manufacturer’s suggested retail price on the average Frontier will be down about $830, or 5.1%, from 1998. The price of the average-equipped Sentra will be down $796, or 5%. Detroit’s Big Three auto makers have been trying to hold down sticker price increases for the last two years in a fierce battle for market share.