Nissan has announced its strategy for India that will see the company launch new products, strengthen the Nissan and Datsun brands, expand its dealership network, optimise flexible manufacturing and strengthen R&D facilities together with its Alliance partners in the country.
Under the strategy for India market Nissan aims to launch a product offensive, bringing Nissan worldwide lineup, including the electric vehicle Leaf, to India and building on Nissan’s technological leadership in electrification and connected cars.
Nissan plans to build on its SUV heritage, especially in the premium mainstream brands - both Nissan and Datsun - with wide appeal, starting with the Nissan Kicks, to reinforce its market in India.
The focus is on enhancing Nissan’s brand image with products, equipped with connected technologies, offering high value to customers.
Nissan will expand its regional marketing and sales operations teams to four key regions across India - doubling its sales and service touch points and strengthening dealership network in the next three years, from 270 today.
Further Nissan plans to develop its design centre in Chennai to ensure cars meet the rapidly changing expectations of Indian customers.
Nissan will also further expand its first Global Digital Hub in Kerala, hiring 500 employees in FY 2018 with focus on innovations in mobility to enhance Nissan’s products to meet the expectations of customers worldwide and in India.
It will also hire 1,000 more engineers at RNTBCI to further enhance the Alliance’s number one position in R&D in India, besides addressing issues like improving customer service and satisfaction, and expanding access to Nissan’s products and services, through digitisation and eCommerce.
“Nissan is committed to India and has built the foundations to succeed.” said Peyman Kargar chairman of Nissan in Africa, the Middle East and India, and senior vice president. “Our strategy will strengthen both our brands for our customers across India. The Nissan brand will bring the best of global Nissan products and technology to our customers in India, starting with the Nissan Kicks. For Datsun we aim to offer compelling products across segments offering value, connectivity and Japanese engineering.”
According to Nissan, Alliance has invested Rs6,100 crore in India since 2010, and continues to focus on the Indian market to further develop its engineering, research and development and manufacturing operations in India.
“The Alliance is already India’s largest automotive research and development employer through the Renault Nissan Technology Business Centre for India in Chennai. Further the Alliance’s plant in Chennai is a global manufacturing hub exporting to 106 countries,” says a company release.