Nissan rolls out one-lakh Micra in one year in India

"Chennai plant, which provides us with a skilled and localised production base, is a key part of our strategy for profitable and sustainable growth within India," Nissan Corporate Vice-President for Africa, Middle East and India, Gilles Normand, said in a statement.

"Micra's success is only the first step in realising our potential within this market," Normand added.

The first Micra rolled-off the production line in May 2010. Since then the workforce has expanded to nearly 4,000 (from an original 1,500) to meet demand from within India and across the world.

The Rs 4,500-crore facility is the first dedicated Renault-Nissan Alliance vehicle manufacturing plant and the fourth generation of the Micra is the first model to be produced there.

It will be joined later this year by an all-new global sedan and in 2012 a commercial vehicle will be added to the line-up as part of a joint venture with Ashok Leyland.

Since its launch in India last July, the Nissan Micra has driven a sales boost within the market with over 15,000 units sold to date. The Micra is also produced at plants in Thailand, Mexico and China.

The company's Chennai facility, which will have an overall capacity of 4,00,000 units at full ramp-up, will ultimately supply Micra to over 100 countries across Europe, Middle East and Africa, it said.