Nissan Mulls 5000 Dollar Car With Ashok Leyland (03-Mar-2010)
Nissan Motors is eyeing to tie-up with Ashok Leyland for developing a small car for the global market that could be priced at around $4,500-5,000.
Mr. Collin Dodge, Executive Vice-President of Nissan Motor said the company had a formal talk with Ashok Leyland for making Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) in India. Also, the company will use Ashok Leyland''s engineering services for various purposes. Currently, the company is in discussion to Ashok Leyland and many other partners in China, Indonesia and many more for a price centric vehicle.
Mr. Dodge said the small car is designed to support the price bracket of $4,500-5,000. This price segment is expected to account for around 20 % of total global car sales in coming time.
Earlier in 2008, Nissan and Renault had announced a tie-up with Bajaj Auto to produce a car priced at $2,500, but Mr. Dodge said that the physicality is very difficult. The company has not yet found a solution as there are lots of engineering solutions required to go ahead with this project.
Mr. Dodge said no big global carmakers could produce a small car at such a cheap price without partnering with local firms already engaged in low-cost production.
Mr. Dodge also said China will be the main market for the proposed $5,000 car with about 2 mn units while India should stand at number 2.
In India, the car could be positioned between Tata Nano at the lower end and Maruti Swift at the upper end.
Nissan is already partnering Ashok Leyland in LCVs joint venture. Currently, the JV is developing both trucks and buses in the 3-tonne and 6-tonne category.
Nissan has already partnering Bajaj and Renault in developing an ultra low cost car.
Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. is a multinational automaker headquartered in Japan. It formerly marketed vehicles under the "Datsun" brand name and is one of the largest car manufacture. The company''s global headquarters are located in Nishi-ku, Yokohama. In 1999, Nissan entered a two way alliance with Renault S.A. of France, which owns 44.4 % of Nissan while Nissan holds 15 % of Renault shares, as of 2008. Nissan is among the top three Asian (also known as the Japanese Big 3 Automakers) rivals of the "Big Three" in the U.S.
Nissan unveiled its much-awaited low-cost compact car Micra at the Geneva Motor Show. Nissan aims at becoming a major force in the fast-growing segment, targeting global sales of 1 mn units with the roll-out of a family of compact cars by 2013. The car will be manufactured at the company''s Chennai plant.
Mr. Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault Nissan said Micra will be sold in about 160 countries.
Ghosn said 2010 would be a tough year for the company in terms of its European market. Its main concern is about European market and in European market the company is foreseeing a decline of about 10%.
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