Nissan, Leyland in small car talks

The company, which is also a partner in the development of an ultra low cost car with Bajaj Auto and Renault, said the project is yet to find a solution to produce such a cheap car.

“We have a formal agreement with Ashok Leyland for making light commercial vehicles in India...in addition to that we also use Ashok Leyland’s engineering services for various purposes. At the moment we are talking to them and many other partners in China, Indonesia...for a price centric vehicle,” Nissan Motor Co Executive Vice-President Collin Dodge told reporters at the Geneva Motor Show.

He said the global small car is aimed at tapping the price bracket of US$ 4500-5000, which is set to grow substantially and account for around “20 per cent of the total global car sales in due course of time.”

“There may be an opportunity with Ashok Leyland on a price centric car,” Dodge added.

Unveils Micra

Meanwhile, the company unveiled its global compact car ‘Micra’, that will be made only in five countries, including India, while the company said it is mulling to assemble imported cars like sedan Teana and SUV Xtrail at its Chennai plant.

It will start producing Micra in Thailand first and then in India in May followed by China and Mexico, while the location for the fifth plant is not decided.