Nissan to launch small sedans

Nissan Motor Company is planning to introduce light sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and sub-four-metre sedans. It aims to increase its market share from 1.1 per cent to 10 per cent in three-four years.

Toru Hasegawa, corporate vice-president (India, Africa and West Asia), said, “Last year, sales of hatchbacks and mid-sized sedans declined 10 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively, in India. The segments seeing growth are light sports utility vehicles and sub-four-metre sedans and we will focus on these segments. By 2016-17, we want to be a major force in the Indian market.”

Nissan is the latest among many car manufacturers to have evinced interest in the sub-four metre space. These include Hyundai (sedan XCent), Ford (sedan Figo Concept), Tata Motors (sedan Zest), General Motors (concept SUV Adra), Fiat (Avventura) and Volkswagen (concept SUV Taigun).