‘Nissan India to export vehicles to over 100 countries’

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: Japanese auto major Nissan Motor Company has big plans for the Indian market. It plans to drive in nine models to the country by 2012. The company also plans to launch its sports car 370Z in India by 2010. In an interview with FE’s Malabika Sarkar, Kiminobu Tokuyama, MD & CEO, Nissan Motor India, talks about the importance of the Indian market in the company's global business.Excerpts:

Nissan has signed an MoU with Ennore Port for exporting vehicles to Europe and other countries. What facilities do you get under this MoU?

The MoU will enable Nissan to use one whole berth and a car parking yard of over 1,40,000 square metres.

When will you start exporting from Ennore and how many units do you plan to export in the next three to four years?

We will start exporting 1,10,000 units in FY 11 and 1,80,000 units in future. Nissan is planning to export vehicles from India to more than 100 countries, including some in Europe.

Tata Steel is your local steel partner. How would it benefit your production in India? Which are the countries you source steel from?

Nissan aims to have over 80% of localisation in India for better efficiency. It is also planning to export parts from India to other production sites to maximise efficiency.

You are reportedly planning to come out with a next generation A segment car Mirca before next summer. What would the launch be like?

We will start production of March/Mirca in India from May 2010. We will announce the launch date when it is ready. The manufacturing unit will initially have the capacity to produce 2,00,000 cars an year that would be later scaled up to 4,00,000.

Apart from Mirca, which models do you plan to launch in the next two years?

Nissan is planning to produce five models, including March/Micra. In addition, there will be two models, including a sedan, from the new platform we are developing.

Nissan has announced that it would soon start manufacturing a new electric car, Leaf, for the US market by 2010. Would you export the car to other nations?

The Leaf will be launched in the US, Europe, and Japan in late-2010. It will be mass marketed in other parts of the world from 2012.