<p>Japanese automobile behemoth Nissan Motor Company has envisioned expanding its market share in India to 5 per cent by 2020, competing on the back of a robust two-pronged strategy founded on a well-tested ‘for-India car plan’, along with the introduction of its global powerhouse products here.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Indian car market is dotted with a number of manufacturers who have rolled out new concepts and ideas for a young, motor-hungry nation. Meanwhile, Nissan has held a modest market share of over 1.6 per cent, mostly supported by its match-winning B+ hatch Micra, and its SUV offering Terrano.<br /><br />“We have spent time studying the market. The two-pronged strategy we have arrived at includes making and introducing products based on India’s needs that will be total value for money, progressive, and of high quality. The second aspect is to get more of our popular global products here, for which, we are sure to find a good market,” Nissan Motor India Vice President (Marketing) Aarushi Agarwal told Deccan Herald.<br /><br />Agarwal, who was in Bengaluru to launch the Micra X-Shift, hinted that as part of its new product strategy, Nissan would focus more on the B+ and (compact) SUV categories, which have been breadwinners for the company in India. The product spread would also incorporate makes of both Nissan, and one its brands, Datsun.<br /><br />The company is likely to roll out at least one product from either brand every year going ahead, she hinted.<br /><br />Bullish on the B+<br /><br />“The B+ category (cars priced between Rs 5.5 lakh and 7.5 lakh — premium hatches) is growing rapidly, and every company wants to be a part of it. Also, everyone wants to enter the compact, roomy SUV segment. Hence, we may focus there. We also view hatches as a potential segment, which must be developed for India,” Agarwal said. She however, did not reveal any further details.<br /><br />It must be noted that around 65,292 units of the Nissan Micra have been sold in India till date, while over 76,120 units were exported to Europe last year alone, making it the most-exported car last year. <br /><br />Recently, the company introduced a CVT (continuously variable transmission) gear transmission on the Micra X-Shift, motivated by the 3.5 per cent spurt in demand for automatic cars in recent times.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Datsun managed to sell 13,000 units of the hatchback Go last year. <br />“We are targeting the big urban centres with the Nissan brand, while the Datsun is aimed more towards tier-II and tier-III markets. We are also hoping to grow our exports to greater heights,” she said.<br /><br />“In the last 5-7 years, we have invested Rs 4,500 crore on our facility in Chennai, which has a capacity of 400,000 units, of which currently only 60 per cent is utilised. With demand, this will certainly grow,” Agarwal said.<br /><br />Regarding the second aspect of its strategy, Nissan is looking at a varied assortment of segments to introduce products such as SUVs, performance cars, and even electric cars.<br />Nissan (and Datsun) sold over 47,000 cars last year in India, with the company growing at 24 per cent, and emerging as the second fastest auto OEM in the country. <br />The carmaker plans to have 300 dealerships open in India by FY16, from the current 180.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Japanese automobile behemoth Nissan Motor Company has envisioned expanding its market share in India to 5 per cent by 2020, competing on the back of a robust two-pronged strategy founded on a well-tested ‘for-India car plan’, along with the introduction of its global powerhouse products here.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Indian car market is dotted with a number of manufacturers who have rolled out new concepts and ideas for a young, motor-hungry nation. Meanwhile, Nissan has held a modest market share of over 1.6 per cent, mostly supported by its match-winning B+ hatch Micra, and its SUV offering Terrano.<br /><br />“We have spent time studying the market. The two-pronged strategy we have arrived at includes making and introducing products based on India’s needs that will be total value for money, progressive, and of high quality. The second aspect is to get more of our popular global products here, for which, we are sure to find a good market,” Nissan Motor India Vice President (Marketing) Aarushi Agarwal told Deccan Herald.<br /><br />Agarwal, who was in Bengaluru to launch the Micra X-Shift, hinted that as part of its new product strategy, Nissan would focus more on the B+ and (compact) SUV categories, which have been breadwinners for the company in India. The product spread would also incorporate makes of both Nissan, and one its brands, Datsun.<br /><br />The company is likely to roll out at least one product from either brand every year going ahead, she hinted.<br /><br />Bullish on the B+<br /><br />“The B+ category (cars priced between Rs 5.5 lakh and 7.5 lakh — premium hatches) is growing rapidly, and every company wants to be a part of it. Also, everyone wants to enter the compact, roomy SUV segment. Hence, we may focus there. We also view hatches as a potential segment, which must be developed for India,” Agarwal said. She however, did not reveal any further details.<br /><br />It must be noted that around 65,292 units of the Nissan Micra have been sold in India till date, while over 76,120 units were exported to Europe last year alone, making it the most-exported car last year. <br /><br />Recently, the company introduced a CVT (continuously variable transmission) gear transmission on the Micra X-Shift, motivated by the 3.5 per cent spurt in demand for automatic cars in recent times.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Datsun managed to sell 13,000 units of the hatchback Go last year. <br />“We are targeting the big urban centres with the Nissan brand, while the Datsun is aimed more towards tier-II and tier-III markets. We are also hoping to grow our exports to greater heights,” she said.<br /><br />“In the last 5-7 years, we have invested Rs 4,500 crore on our facility in Chennai, which has a capacity of 400,000 units, of which currently only 60 per cent is utilised. With demand, this will certainly grow,” Agarwal said.<br /><br />Regarding the second aspect of its strategy, Nissan is looking at a varied assortment of segments to introduce products such as SUVs, performance cars, and even electric cars.<br />Nissan (and Datsun) sold over 47,000 cars last year in India, with the company growing at 24 per cent, and emerging as the second fastest auto OEM in the country. <br />The carmaker plans to have 300 dealerships open in India by FY16, from the current 180.<br /><br /></p>
