The Indian unit of Japanese auto giant Nissan Motors, which has recently unveiled its much admired Micra hatchback in diesel version, is planning to enhance its distribution network to 100 dealers from existing number of 21 dealers by year 2013. By the same time, the company plans to take its product line-up to 9 models.
According to a statement given by Kiminobu Tokuyama, managing director and CEO, the company is ramping up its dealer network to 100 by 2013 from the current 21. He added that next year Nissan India will be launching a sedan model and in 2012 a multi-purpose vehicle to be built in joint venture with Ashok Leyland.
The company has been registering heavy sales of the petrol version of its compact hatchback Micra since its launch in July 2010. So far, more than 6,000 units of this car have been sold in the Indian market. The car is currently produced at Nissan-Renault’s joint venture car plant at Orgadam near, that rolls-out 15,000 cars per month.
Nissan India commenced exports of petrol version of Nissan Micra to European countries in October this year and has shipped out over 15,000 units since then. It aims to produce 80,000 units of Micra next year that are to be sold in both domestic as well as foreign markets. However, the diesel version of Micra will be sold in only domestic market and there are no plans of shipping it out.
Meanwhile, the company is planning to start assembling its Nissan Teana sedan in India by importing it in semi knocked down units from Japan. At present, the company imports the Teana model through completely built unit (CBU) route that attracts a 110 percent excise duty on the car. Besides Micra and Teana, the current product line up of the company includes sports utility vehicle (SUV) Nissan X-Trail and luxury sports sedan Nissan 370Z.
