Nissan to be first automaker to export from Ennore Port

Nissan Motor India Private Limited today said that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Ennore Port Ltd (EPL) to export its vehicles through Ennore Port in Tamil Nadu. NMIPL, the Indian affiliate of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd, will be the first automaker to utilise the eastern gateway port of India as an export base.

NMIPL will begin exporting vehicles, primarily to Europe, commencing the second half of 2010. Exports are expected to be approximately 110,000 units in fiscal year 2011 and grow to 180,000 units in the future. Exports will include models, such as the next generation of Micra, which will be built on Nissan's new A-platform.

''Ennore Port meets all of Nissan's requirements to export vehicles,'' said Shouhei Kimura, managing director of NMIPL. ''We are looking forward to a cooperative and successful working relationship with EPL to achieve the highest level of on-time delivery at competitive costs.''

EPL will complete development of a berth with space of 140,000m2 for vehicles by the end of June 2010 and give NMIPL priority to use the newly developed marine facilities.

The development of a competitive A-platform is one of several business breakthroughs announced as part of Nissan GT 2012, the company's new five-year business plan. India is one of the five leading competitive countries (LCCs) to produce and export the new A-platform models in Nissan's global manufacturing network. Models will be available in the local market as well.