Nissan would be announcing a strategic initiative soon. We are at the event which is taking place at Taj Lands End in Mumbai and will update you with all the details, live from the floor. Stay tuned. Meanwhile you can speculate what could it be?
Points From The Press Conference
- Nissan to target 8% market share and 8% sustainable profits by 2016
- Growth strategy called Power 88
- Main growth due to V-platform sedan
- Globally sold 2,84,000 units of the Sunny
- Second line of operations started in Chennai to increase capacity
- Datsun to return
- High growth markets like India to drive sale numbers
- New car demand in India is powerful
- Growth coming from first time buyers
- Datsun will have local production
- Datsun merged with Nissan in 1933 (after World War 1)
- Separate line-up of cars in Datsun and Nissan
- Datsun cars will be locally engineered
- Target segment is the below Rs. 4 lakh segment
- Other markets will be Indonesia and Russia
- Products will be market specific
- Market introduction to happen in India, Indonesia and Russia in 2014
- Two models within first year (i.e. 2014)
- Datsun cars to offer engaging drive experience, accessibility and peace of mind
- Datsun cars to be light in weight, aiding in handing and fuel economy
- Positioned towards first time car buyers, second hand car buyers and 2-wheeler buyers
- In Indonesia, Datsun launch will be part of the Green car program, accounting for 40% of the Indonesia market
- Product line to be announced later
- First two products to be produced at company’s facility at Orgadam, near Chennai
- Maybe later Datsun will have a plant of its own
- Datsun is said to be already working on the two products for a while now (speculation – could it be the Bajaj ULC?)
- Ashok Leyland could be a strategic partner (unconfirmed)
- Products to be country specific. Locally made and locally engineered
- Nissan will be handling the management
- Nissan plant capacity has been increased to 4 lakh units (from the earlier 2 lakh units)
Live updates concluded, press conference is over!