Nissan Motor India Private Limited (NMIPL), a completely owned subsidiary of Japanese multinational auto major Nissan Motor Co., has revealed intentions to develop a locally assembled model in the next five to six years. The company has also announced that it is currently augmenting its Chennai-based Research and Development (R&D) centre by increasing the number of employed automobile engineers to 4,000.
The latest development has been confirmed by Takayuki Ishida, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nissan Motor India. Ishida has confirmed that the company is working towards enhancing its R&D division and will begin building the new platform once its testing facilities get ready to use.
Commenting on the company's efforts towards enhancing its R&D division, Ishida was quoted as saying, “Engineers will be gradually hired every year depending upon number of platforms we want to develop and synergies with our global research centres. The R&D manpower should be double or more than double in the next 5 to 6 years.” He further added, “The priority will obviously be to develop products for the Indian market. The centre will also work for other market in association with our other global research centres... We are still at initial planning stages.”
Nissan Motor India operates its Chennai based R&D centre in association with its global alliance partner Renault. At present, the Renault - Nissan Technology and Business Centre India employs more than 3,600 people working in vital areas of advanced R&D, along with advanced computer aided engineering and product development.
