)
Ghosn is expected to unveil Renault's new small car on May 20 during his visit, according to sources in the company. The new car will be based on an all new platform, CMF-A (common module family), which has been jointly developed by French automajor Renault and Japanese auto major Nissan.
The French-Lebanese-Brazilian businessman visited India last in 2013 to launch Datsun, Japanese automajor Nissan's low-cost car brand. Datsun was launched in India first globally, now Renault's small car to be unveiled in India for the global market.
C V Sankar, additional chief secretary (industries department), Tamil Nadu, said: "Renault-Nissan wants expansion of the existing plant and they are looking at a total investment of Rs 5,000 crore for the expansion. We already have an MoU with them of Rs 4,500 crore, and this will be in addition to that. Work has started and the timeline given to them is usually of seven years." Nissan's spokesperson said that “we do not comment on our future investments".
Chennai plant of Renault-Nissan currently has capacity to produce 400,000 cars a year. Ghosn during his last visit said that this will be increased to 600,000.
During his visit, last time, Ghosn said that the alliance has invested $2.5 billion so far in its Indian facility located at Oragadam and this could double in the next five years.
