Nissan the new entrant in the small car in India said it has started commercial production of small car ‘Micra’ from its plant in Chennai. Nissan Motor India, will start selling the car from July, for which bookings will open from tomorrow.
“The start of commercial production of Nissan Micra is the beginning of a new chapter for us in India. In an exponentially growing and challenging Indian automobile industry, we are introducing a product that has been specifically designed keeping in mind the discerning consumer needs of India,” Nissan Motor Company Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga said in a statement.
The India-made Micra will be exported to “strategic markets” such as Europe, the Middle East and Africa as part of its plans to sell the car in over 100 countries, he added.
Nissan is also looking at making the Chennai plant as a global hub for exports. The start of production for the Micra for exports will commence in July, 2010, and the first shipment will begin from September, 2010.
The company will start displaying the ‘Micra’ from 25th May in its showrooms across the country. The bookings will also begin simultaneously against an initial amount of Rs. 50,000.
To boost sales, the company will aggressively market the car and it will be supported by a “comprehensive print, digital, radio and TV campaign shortly”.
Pitted against Maruti’s Swift, Hyundai’s i10 and i20, the Micra will come with a 1.2-litre petrol engine and will have 85 per cent localisation in components. The car was designed on the new ‘V’ platform.
The new Micra will be produced in five countries — Thailand, India, China and Mexico. The fifth location is yet to be decided.
