Nissan Micra, made in Chennai

Carmaker to shift line from UK

NEW DELHI: England’s loss is India’s gain. Nissan Motor Co on Tuesday announced it would shift production of the ‘Micra’ small car platform from Sunderland in the UK to India by the turn of the decade.

Though India wouldn’t be the sole manufacturing location for the small car, the decision to shift this platform to the upcoming Chennai facility signals Nissan’s gameplan of developing India as a major small-car producing hub.

Speaking in Tokyo earlier, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn had explained his company’s long-term strategy thus: “Our business expansion breakthrough includes plans for a family of all-new, global entry cars that will enable us to offer 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 Auto and planned to be launched in 2011.”

Neeraj Garg, Nissan’s marketing head in India, said the company will roll out 8 new models from India by 2012.

While declining to give a timeline for the roll out of cars from the Chennai facility, Garg said the ‘A’ segment platform would be used for more small cars after the Micra —- at least three models, including the next generation of Micra, and will be built in five “leading competitive countries” (including India and Thailand).

Nissan feels that the ‘A’ platform models will be easy to source and localise in such countries, supporting a high level of cost competitiveness while offering an attractive vehicle choice for entry-car customers. By 2012, the company is looking at annual volumes of 200,000 units.