Japanese auto-major Nissan rolled out its 100,000th Micra, a compact hatchback, from the Renault Nissan Alliance plant at Oragadam, near Chennai. The company achieved the milestone in just over a year.
The first Micra compact hatchback rolled off the production line in May 2010. Since then the workforce has expanded to nearly 4,000, from 1,500, to meet demand from within India and across the world.
The joint venture partners have committed an investment of Rs 4,500 crore facility is the first dedicated Renault-Nissan Alliance vehicle manufacturing plant, and the 4th generation of the iconic 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 Ltd. 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 innovative Micra is also produced at plants in Thailand, Mexico and China.Chennai, which will have an overall plant capacity of 400,000 units at full ramp up, will ultimately supply Micra to over 100 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. To date nearly 70,000 units have been shipped.
Gilles Normand, Nissan corporate vice-president for Africa, the Middle-East and India, said: “The 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, and Micra’s success is only the first step in realising our potential within this market.”
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“Chennai is also crucial in terms of manufacturing high-volume, high-quality products for export to many markets and I hope that the facility will develop into one of Nissan’s most important production hubs,” he added.
In addition to Micra, Nissan also sells the X-TRAIL lifestyle SUV, Teana sedan and 370Z sports car in India. By 2013, Nissan is aiming to have 85 per cent coverage of the Indian market by expanding the number of dealers from 35 to over 100.