Nissan Micra to be Made in India

Nissan Motors India is readying to launch a new hatchback in India by early 2010. The small car will be manufactured at their new plant in Chennai. This new plant is expected to be operational from next year.

Nissan India has set up a new manufacturing unit in Oragadam near Chennai in association with the French auto maker Renault. The new facility will not merely cater to the domestic needs but also the overseas demands of models from both the companies.


The unit will have an initial manufacturing capacity of 200,000 cars per year. The factory will then scale-up production to 300,000 cars in about four year's time. It has been revealed that it has become difficult for Nissan and the French car maker, Renault, to make profitable cars in Europe for sale.

The upcoming small car is known as the March in Japan, but the Indian version will be christened as the Nissan Micra. The Micra will be available in both petrol and diesel versions. The Nissan Micra will stand against the Tata Nano.

Initially, it will be the Micra which would be followed by a derivative of the small car and then a sedan which is expected to be launched in 2011. In addition to the Nissan Micra, the company also aims to launch four to five models in next five years in the Indian market.

Currently Nissan Motors sells the completely built units (CBU) of Nissan Teana and Nissan X-Trail in India.