Nissan plans entry-level car in India by 2010

A day after announcing a low-cost $2500 car in partnership with Bajaj, Nissan has chalked out plans to also go solo and introduce an entry level car in India by early 2010. The car, with 90% localisation, will be priced aggressively in the volume segment.

"Nissan will compete in the entry car with a dedicated platform that will be used for at least three models built in five leading competitive countries (LCCs), the first of which will be produced in Thailand and India in early 2010," Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan, said.

Speaking at Nissan's earnings conference at Tokyo, he said the A-platform models would be easy to source and localise in LCCs, "supporting a high level of cost competitiveness while offering an attractive vehicle choice" for entry-car customers. "Today, Nissan has zero entry-car sales, so there is plenty of room for improvement," he said.

The car would be launched as part of Nissan's plans to develop a family of global entry cars aimed at offering "affordable models" to a larger section of society. "Our plans are twofold: First, Nissan cars based on a new A platform and, below, a Nissan version of the alliance ultra-low-cost car, being developed with Bajaj and planned to be launched in 2011," Ghosn said.

In India, Nissan plans to spread through JVs as it also pursues its solo run. While it is investing Rs 4500 crore for a facility in Chennai along with parent Renault, the company will launch light commercial vehicles in partnership with Ashok Leyland and the Nano rival ultra low-cost car with Bajaj.

"In India, our volume is expected to increase to more than 200,000 units in fiscal year 2012," Ghosn said.

[Source:Economictimes]

Note: The picture is the Nissan Cube and not the entry level car