The Indian unit of the leading Japanese car maker Nissan Motor Company is aggressively planning to expand its portfolio in mass segment. The company is all set to launch three to four new car models in the sub Rs 5 lakh segment in the Indian market over the period of coming three to four years.
As per the recent media reports, Nissan is likely to roll-out a small car based on its K2 platform by year 2013-14. The car is expected to be positioned in the price range of Rs 3 to 4 lakh, where it will be taking on the likes of Maruti’s A-Star, Wagon R, Hyundai i10, Chevrolet Beat and Hyundai’s upcoming EON.
Also, the company plans to roll-out even smaller and cheaper car in the country in the price range of Rs 2 to 3 lakh, in competition with Maruti’s Alto, Chevrolet Spark, Tata Nano, etc. The car is being designed by Hinduja Group's engineering arm Defiance.
In a recent statement, Gilles Normand, corporate vice-president, Africa, West Asia and India, Nissan Motor, said, "We are open to partnerships. We want to have a competitive offering in the Indian market, there are different possibilities from the very bottom of Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 4 lakh, but I will not get into specifics."
At present, the small car segment accounts for about 70 percent of the total cars sold in the Indian market. Thus expanding its portfolio in the mass segment will certainly help the company in strengthening its position in the Indian auto market.
