Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Nissan launches 2 new cars in India
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Search
Search:
Nissan launches 2 new cars in India
By ERIKA KINETZ,AP Business Writer AP - Thursday, September 17
MUMBAI, India - Nissan Motor Co. launched two new car models in Mumbai Wednesday, part of an aggressive India expansion plan by Japan's third-largest automaker.
ADVERTISEMENT
"India is the single biggest country in Nissan's investment plan in 2009," said Kiminobu Tokuyama, chief executive and managing director of Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd.
He declined to specify exactly how much of Nissan's fiscal year 2009 capital expenditure budget of 350 billion Japanese yen ($3.6 billion) will be directed to India as the company works to diversify its product line, raise its market share and transform India into a global production hub.
The new versions of Nissan's X-Trail sport utility vehicle and luxury Teana sedan unveiled Wednesday during a smoke and light show with live African drumming will not immediately solve the problems _ chiefly high prices, big cars that lack mass appeal and desperately low sales volumes _ that analysts say have thwarted Nissan's India efforts.
But Tokuyama said that is about to change.
Like other global auto majors, Nissan has been pushing into emerging markets like India and China to cut production costs and sustain sales growth as demand in mature markets stagnates.
Currently, Nissan ships cars to India ready-made from Japan, incurring a 109 percent import duty. That high cost _ the retail price of the new X-Trail starts at 2 million rupees ($42,670) and the new Teana at 2.1 million rupees ($43,121) _ has thwarted sales, executives said.
Since Nissan began selling cars in India in 2004, it has only sold about 1,000 X-Trail vehicles, and just 300 Teana sedans, executives said.
Tokuyama said that by 2012, Nissan plans to expand its India product line from two to nine models, five of which would be manufactured in India, and ramp up its dealer network from five to 55 outlets.
Tokuyama said Nissan's first India-made car _ a new version of the hatchback that now sells under the Micra brand in Europe and the March brand in Japan _ would roll out of its Chennai factory, in southern India, in May 2010.
That factory is the centerpiece of a seven-year, 45 billion rupee ($920 million) investment plan undertaken with France's Renault, which owns 44 percent of Nissan.
Nissan also plans to use the Chennai factory as a global export hub and shift production of Micra cars for Europe from the U.K. to Chennai. Tokuyama said Nissan would start exporting 110,000 cars a year from Chennai to Europe, the Middle East and Africa starting in the second half of 2010.
"Production cost is an important factor in the production of the Micra," he said. "Other global manufacturers have found that India is very good quality and cost competitive."
Tokuyama said the U.K. factory would be used to produce another vehicle and said he did not anticipate any layoffs. He said Nissan also plans to shift production of the March hatchback from Japan to a factory in Thailand.
Nissan, along with Renault and India's Bajaj Auto, is also developing an ultra-low cost car to compete with the Tata Motors Nano. Tokuyama declined to say when the model might be ready.
Mohit Arora, who covers the Indian auto market for J.D. Power from Singapore, said Nissan was late to come to India and its current offerings are too expensive for most Indians.
"Unlike, let's say, Toyota and Honda, which have been there for some time, Nissan was a late arrival on the Indian scene," he said. "They were focused on markets which had given them faster growth, like China."
But, he added, "That's not to say they've missed the boat."
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
Related Articles: Business
SEC wants judge to order big penalty in Kmart caseAP - Thursday, September 17
Credit card losses climb with jobless rate in AugReuters - Thursday, September 17
Japan finmin: confident govt can fund spending plansReuters - Thursday, September 17
FTSE hits highest close in 12 months; banks advanceReuters - Thursday, September 17
Wall Street gains on weaker dollar and dataReuters - 2 hours 3 minutes ago
Most Popular – Business
Viewed
Iraq shoe-thrower flies out after release
'Dirty Dancing' star Patrick Swayze dead at 57
Remains of Jesus-era synagogue found in Israel
Obama lashes out at Wall Street
Mafia sank boat with radioactive waste: official
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Thursday, 17 September 2009 Iran opposition leaders to attend anti-Israel rally
Barroso wins second term as EU commission chief
Spain's Zara to start selling its clothes over the Internet
Ozone hole smaller in 2009 than 2008: WMO
Some 750,000 paedophiles prowling Internet: UN
Israel rejects independent inquiry into Gaza war
Algerian appeals sentence over Paris metro bombs
British unemployment hits 14-year high
Electric cars star at Frankfurt fair
IAEA's poor nations split on Iran's attack ban bid
| International
|
Iran will not tolerate threats during talks: aide
Iraqi Green Zone attack suspects released
U.S. keeps Venezuela, Bolivia atop narcotics list
| International
|
China's Lenovo unveils homegrown smartphone
China has 63 mln Internet businesspeople: reports
Iraqi official: Talks with Syria over attacks fail
Iraq leader seeks investment as rockets fall
| International
|
Gunmen kill 10 patients at Mexico rehab clinic
| International
|
Iran replaces reformist cleric for annual sermon
Somali rebels call for foreign reinforcements
| International
|
Europe's farmers dump milk to protest low prices
| International
|
Don't leave poor behind, World Bank chief tells G20
| International
|
Iran says ready for any possible gasoline sanction
Emmy Countdown: Workers busy at Nokia Theatre
No sign of settlement deal after U.S.-Israel talks
Behind the snags, drama, hype: Meet the Boeing 787
| Technology
|
EU in informal talks on Microsoft, Yahoo deal: source
| Technology
|
Calif. courts shuttered Wednesday to save money
Kansas senators drop roadblock of Obama nominees
US ambassador walks streets of Kabul
Comcast plans to bring TV shows to your phone
| Technology
|
Officials assure residents about jail contract
Rights group: Free Myanmar prisoners before polls
Chinese envoy holds talks in North Korea
NC crash kills ex-White House photog Kightlinger
Military van shot near US gold mine in Indonesia
Ohio woman arrested for spanking stranger's child
SKorea: Any US-NKorea talks must deal with nukes
Police foil 'terror' attacks in China's Xinjiang
Court sets execution date for DC sniper mastermind
Japan's new leader vows economic, diplomacy shift
Funeral held for former Blagojevich fundraiser
Colo. man denies link to terror plot after NY trip
Hatoyama elected Japan's leader, names Cabinet
Senator's plan joins heated U.S. healthcare debate
FBI Director says no imminent danger from NYC case
Sweden promised accessed to suspects in Pakistan
Australian cat strays 2,400 miles, returns home
China tire row need not spark trade war: US official
Taiwan Mobile buys cable TV firm in billion-dollar deal
Air France holds talks with Japan Airlines: source
Nissan launches 2 new cars in India
Rain swears off "scary, horrible" dieting
China state companies invest $35.7B abroad in 2008
Japan chip makers agree on deal, cash infusion
Beyonce sued by Abercrombie & Fitch over fragrance
| Entertainment
|
Patrick Swayze made peace with death, memoir shows
| Entertainment
|
Japan chip makers agree on merger, cash infusion
Pakistani stocks end on highest closing this year
Leno show loses 7 million viewers on second night
| Entertainment
|
Beyonce sued by Abercrombie & Fitch over fragrance
TV's `Newlywed Game' features first gay couple
Al Jazeera breaks Arab TV taboo by showing Israeli team
Ben Hur spectacular premieres in London
German writer Enzensberger wins Danish prize
Emmy Countdown: Workers busy at Nokia Theatre
For director Jason Reitman, risky films pay off
President's opinion of Kanye West sparks debate
Danish daily prints soldier's book despite protest
EU in informal talks on Microsoft, Yahoo deal: source
Obama: No decision yet on Afghanistan troop count
Two EU cars attacked with Molotov cocktails in Kosovo
Murdoch's Sky Italia sues Berlusconi's Mediaset
Nanoparticles could pose threat to humans: scientists
Gazans welcome UN war crimes report
Bright start for Japan's new PM as economy improves
| International
|
Comcast plans to bring TV shows to your phone
Biden confident in stable Iraq amid rocket attacks
Iraq leader seeks investment as rockets fall
Israel defense chief: Iran not an existential threat
| International
|
Iraqis venture out near Ramadan end, violence drops
PC sales down 2.4 pct in second quarter: IDC
Australian charged with raping daughter for 30 years
| International
|
Google acquires Web security firm reCAPTCHA
Behind the snags, drama, hype: Meet the Boeing 787
Teens cleared of plotting UK Columbine massacre
| International
|
Indonesia police believe key militant dead: sources
| International
|
Honduras candidates back negotiated solution to coup
| International
|
China's cancer villages bear witness to economic boom
| International
|
FBI question Colorado man linked to NY raid
US envoy confident of closing Guantanamo on time
More bones found at US kidnap suspect's home: police
Transcript: Copilot pleaded for chopper to fly
Man accused of trading dad's car for $50 in crack
Pa. man gets 8 years for sex with Russian orphans
Australia intercepts boat carrying 48 asylum-seekers
Indonesia police raid Java house; 3 dead
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 757
McHugh confirmed as Army secretary
Rockets vie in simulated lunar landing contest
Canada says won't review Nortel-Ericsson deal
| Technology
|
US-Japan ties to 'stand test' of change: Clinton
A look at who's in, out for Kennedy seat
Clinton pledges to boost Bangladesh trade
Police says shots fired during raid in Indonesia
China invests $750 mln in Mauritius
Indonesia police attack suspected militant hideout
China could undermine US military power in Pacific: Gates
Japanese PM pledges big change
Top UN official in Sri Lanka to push for rights probe
Bank of Japan maintains stimulative policy
WRAPUP 1-Tension grows over South Korea rate policy
Lindsay Lohan's brief: make Ungaro 'cooler'
S.Korea state think-tank calls for liquidity control
Indian firm eyes European electric car market
S.Korea needs macro-, micro-policy for property -official
S.Korea economy faces high uncertainty -fin min
Taiwan dollar at fresh 3-mth high on econ hopes
Seoul shares hit near-15-mth high on foreign buying
S.Korea T-bonds fall on retail sales data
S.Korea dept store sales jump in Aug
Whip It remarkable directing debut for Barrymore
| Entertainment
|
Burt Reynolds hopes his fight with drugs helps others
| Entertainment
|
Michael Caine on warpath in "Harry Brown"
Mary Travers of "Peter, Paul and Mary" dies, age 72
Beyonce sued by Abercrombie & Fitch over fragrance
| Entertainment
|
Gene Simmons promises high-impact Boom from Kiss
| Entertainment
|
China's Ai Weiwei: artist with politics on mind
Teen spirit elevates Youth in Revolt
| Entertainment
|
Website offers emails from beyond the grave
Blast during counter-terror operation in Indonesia
Fashionistas ask: Crisis? what crisis?
Michael Caine on warpath in Harry Brown
| Entertainment
|
Spike Lee, Robert De Niro in New York frame of mind
| Entertainment
|
Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary dead at 72
Sony Pictures takes side of Defendor
| Entertainment
|
"Whip It" remarkable directing debut for Barrymore
Teen spirit elevates "Youth in Revolt"
Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary dies, age 72
| Entertainment
|
Paul McCartney voted Americans' favorite Beatle
| Entertainment
|
Mall magnate, Pacers co-owner Mel Simon dies at 82
Suicide attack kills 6 Italian troops, 10 Afghans
Somali rebels issue demands to free French hostage
Karzai defends Afghan vote, blast hits Italian troops
| International
|
Taiwan lab develops panda robot
Russian airline Aeroflot plans 2,000 job cuts
U.S. military shuts largest detainee camp in Iraq
| International
|
Implanted tooth helps blind US woman recover sight
China anniversary puts security jitters on show
| International
|
Six Italian soldiers 'killed in Kabul attack'
Karzai defends Afghan vote
3 bodies in Kabul blast on NATO convoy: AFP reporter
Huge blast heard in Afghan capital: witnesses
Iran Guards warn against protests during anti-Israel rallies
| International
|
Biden presses Iraqis to agree on oil
| International
|
Goldstone rejects bias charges over UN Gaza report
Iran says venue for nuclear talks not fixed
Air raid on refugees kills 87 in Yemen: sources
| International
|
Afghan paralysis over fraud-hit election
Suicide car bombers hit main AU base in Somalia
| International
|
Skype founders sue eBay, investors
| Technology
|
Twitter funding would value it at $1 billion: report
| Technology
|
The Nation's weather
Lab technician arrested in slaying of Yale student
Virtual reality used for blind to map real world
| Technology
|
Italy antitrust chief warns Google of heavy fines
| Technology
|
Ark. football player, 16, gets his 'last game'
Ebay petitions EU to stop blocks on Internet trade
| Technology
|
Fed judge expected to rule on G-20 protest suit
Terror mastermind Noordin 'dead in Indonesia raid'
White House holds off on decisions on Afghanistan
A look at health care plans in Congress
Panel begins inquiry into financial meltdown
Deep divisions over long-awaited health care plan
House bill would kill subsidized student loans
New health proposal is industry's favorite so far
Japan's new PM to tackle record jobless rate
Japan's new govt to review airline turnaround plan
Japan's new finance head faces tough economic road
SKorean firm wins bln dlr Saudi power plant deal
Emmy Awards faces conundrum as best watched by less
| Entertainment
|
Malaysian manufacturing down 22.4 pct in July
S.Korea fin min says not time to raise interest rate
French ship builder eyes Asia naval defense market
Terror mastermind Noordin dead: Indonesia police
Despite stroke, humorist Keillor not slowing down
S.Korea fin min says won's rise natural on funds
Press group urges Rudd to resist Indonesia "blackmail"
"I'm a born stage animal": opera star Waltraud Meier
Four suspected militants killed in Indonesian raid
The Police staying off the beat: drummer
At Gaza's only spa, the well-heeled find relief
Boy's films confront Down's syndrome stigma in Serbia
The manga that poured French wine into Asia
Artists take over plush London mansion
Luxury auto sector defies industry crash
Gene Simmons promises high-impact "Boom" from Kiss
Biography reveals Queen Mum's private letters
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights