Nissan to launch new sedan here next year

Nissan Motor India today unveiled the sketch of its new global sedan, based on Nissan’s ‘V’ platform, to be made at the company’s factory at Oragadam near here. The model, to be launched first in China by end-December, is to be followed by a launch in India in the second half of 2011.

“Following the success of our first locally made car, the Nissan Micra, we are happy to reveal the first sketch of the second car to be produced in India. We are confident the ‘New Global Sedan’, also based on the versatile ‘V’ platform, will delight the discerning Indian customers,” said Nissan Motor India’s managing director and CEO, Kiminobu Tokuyama.

The company registered total sales of 1,256 units in September, with the Micra clocking 1,183 units. In the same month last year, the company sold a total of 57 units only, said its statement.

Nissan Motor India Pvt Ltd (NMIPL), a 100 per cent subsidiary of Nissan Motor Ltd, Japan, was incorporated in 2005. Chennai is a hub for production, exports and research and development. In February 2008, Nissan and its global alliance partner, Renault, signed an agreement with the government of Tamil Nadu to set up a manufacturing plant at Oragadam with an investment of Rs 4,500 crore over seven years. The factory was inaugurated this March, with an initial capacity of 200,000 units per year. It is to reach 400,000 units yearly in due course.