Nissan to launch Micra in India in 2010

Japanese auto major, Nissan, which is setting up a Rs 4,500-crore (Rs 45 billion) car-manufacturing facility with Renault in Chennai, said that the project is on schedule and that its first car would roll-out before summer 2010.

"There is no delay, our plans are on track and Nissan India will come out with its next-generation A-segment car, Micra, on schedule before summer 2010," Nissan Motor India's managing director and CEO, Kiminobu Tokuyama, told PTI in Mumbai.

The 50:50 joint venture between Nissan and Renault at Oragadam near Chennai, will have a capacity to manufacture 400,000 cars annually and Nissan will initially manufacture 200,000 cars which it then proposes to scale-up to manufacture up to 300,000 cars in about 4 year's time.

The Micra hatchback is named March in Japan and the Indian version would be christened either Micra or March, he said.

As of now, the joint venture stands, though Renault which was originally to roll-out its models by mid-2010, has not yet indicated when it would now launch its vehicles from the facility.

"As of now, we only know that their launch has been postponed," Tokuyama said.

Tokuyama said Nissan proposes to manufacture 4-5 models from its stable in the next few years.

Initially, it would be Micra which would be followed by a derivative of Micra and then a sedan which is expected to be launched in 2011.

The Micra would be available in both petrol and diesel versions, he said, adding that nearly two-thirds of its production would be exported.

The Ennore port in north Chennai will have a dedicated jetty for exports of Nissan cars and the company hopes to export 200,000-250,000 cars annually in 3-4 years and sell 90,000-100,000 units in the domestic market.

Tokuyama made it clear that Nissan has no plans to manufacture a small car to take on the Tata's Nano at this facility but Nissan-Renault would be collaborating with Bajaj Auto to manufacture a small car in the country.

He also said that Nissan's plans to manufacture light commercial vehicles with Ashok Leyland was on but its launch has been delayed because of the prevailing economic environment.

This would be at a different facility which was coming up in Chennai and the proposal is that Nissan India would market the vehicles, he said.

Tokuyama said that Nissan viewed India as a major manufacturing and export hub for its cars and even though the company has reduced its investment plans in other regions, it was committed to India.

India was high on the radar for Nissan which is the fourth-largest auto manufacturer in the world along with Renault.

Apart from setting up manufacturing facilities, the company has also set up a high-tech research and development facility in Chennai, which is developing painting robots for its international business besides engineering. The centre employs 1,200 personnel.

The dealer network for Nissan cars was being set up by Hover Automotive India with a different network for LCVs, he said.

Right now, the company is selling the completely built units of Teana and X-Trail in India.

Text: PTI