Nissan to make GenY compact cars in India

Nissan Motor Co said on Tuesday it has identified India as one of the five low cost countries to manufacture its new generation compact cars, including the Micra.

"Nissan will compete in the entry-car market with a dedicated new A platform that will be used for at least three models, including the next generation of Micra, and will be built in five Leading Competitive Countries (LCCs)," the company said.

The company said production sites for the new family of compact cars would include the new plant in Chennai being constructed by the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

The development of a competitive A platform is one of several business breakthroughs announced as part of Nissan GT 2012, the company's new five-year business plan, it added.

The company has not yet finalised on which vehicle would be manufactured in India out of the three models planned on the new platform, a Nissan Motors India spokesperson said.

It would manufacture an all-new compact car at its plant at Sunderland in the UK in addition to the current Nissan range, the company said.

The company would end production of the current Micra range in 2010 at the Sunderland plant.

Nissan and Renault had earlier this year announced that they would invest Rs 4,000 crore (Rs 40 billion) in setting up a plant in Chennai to roll out 400,000 vehicles a year under both the brand names after Indian partner Mahindra & Mahindra pulled out of a tripartite joint venture initially planned.