Nissan Motor Co. is working towards consolidating its position in India by concentrating on its production, marketing and distribution system in the country.
Nissan plans to sell 40,000 Micra cars in India by the end of 2011. The company has so far sold 15,000 Micra cars in India since its launch in July 2010. The company also has plans to eventually export the Micra’s produced at its Chennai plant to over 100 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Addressing select media persons in an interview in Chennai (India) recently, Gilles Normand, Corporate Vice-President for Africa, Middle East and India, commented that Nissan is working towards re-balancing the imbalance between the export and domestic sales in India. He also added the company has gained a better understanding of the Indian market and its competitors.
By end of 2011, the company plans to launch a new sedan from its global platform to give direct competition to Toyota Etios and other ‘C’ segment cars in India. The sedan which will be launched under the new ‘V’ platform will be very competitively priced. Nissan with its joint venture partner Renault- India is planning to go in for a second production line by early 2012. Given the current preference of Indian consumers for diesel cars, Mr. Normand stated that the company was contemplating increasing the localization of the diesel engine in India apart from entering the Indian luxury car market.
