Nissan’s ‘global compact car’ to be made in Chennai

Japan's Nissan Motor Co Ltd today revealed the sketch of what it dubs as the 'global compact car'. This model will be first launched in Thailand in March 2010, and will be available in over 150 countries, including India.

The production of the new model would commence at the company's upcoming Chennai plant from May 2010, Nissan said. The car would be produced in four other countries as well - Thailand, China and two undisclosed locations, expected to be in Asia.

"The car is being built on our global platform at our plant in Chennai. We are not in a position to disclose the final name of the car or details related to product specifications and pricing, which will be announced some time in the future," Nissan Motor India managing director and chief executive Kiminobu Tokuyama said in a statement.

"We are confident that the car, which will be manufactured locally in Chennai, will delight the discerning Indian customers. We are serious and committed in our plans for India, and are all excited as we gear up for the start of production in May 2010," he added.

The Rs4,500 crore Chennai plant being built jointly by Nissan and its French parent Renault, with an installed capacity of 4,00,000 units a year. Recent reports suggest that while Nissan remains fully committed to the project, Renault is going slow on its financial commitment to the plant (See: Renault holds back further investment in JV with Nissan)

Nissan's announcement also spells the end of production at its small car facility in Sunderland. Britain's allocation of the new super-mini will be built in India. Production at the UK plant will switch to building the new Qazana, and possibly the recently-revealed electric Leaf.
The new car will arrive in Britain in October 2010.