Nissan hasn’t launched an exciting new product in India for a while now. Sure, the ‘new’ Kicks gets a powerful engine but it’s still not something the masses would go gaga over. The only other model in their current lineup is the GT-R, and that’s not what you’d call a widely attainable car. Now though, things are about to change. Nissan aims to put a lot more focus towards India, Africa and the Middle East as part of its Global Transformation Plan.
Nissan Chief Operating Officer, Ashwani Gupta, said, “Africa, the Middle East and India is an important region where we will target investment in existing strengths, including SUVs, and bring eight new products to the market. By driving efficiencies through the Alliance and focusing on core competencies, we will further increase the region’s profitability, especially in key markets including the Gulf, South Africa and Egypt.”
The plan will follow two basic steps, the first of which is geared toward improving the cost competitiveness of their products and improving manufacturing efficiency. This step also aims to optimise the company’s regional portfolio by 20 per cent. For example, for India, this could mean more spacious and fuel efficient vehicles.
The second step is more focused toward overhauling the brand. There will be a total of eight new models specifically for these markets, including SUVs and B-segment sedans. There will also be a B-segment SUV specifically made for India, which the company has teased before. We will also get to see new technologies coming into these markets including — ePower, electric vehicles and connected car tech. The plan does not disclose how many of those eight models will come to India, or whether the new technologies will be making their way here.
It’s important to note that for India, Renault and Nissan will not be in a leader-follower relationship but will rather have equal freedom. This means that while the two will continue to share underpinnings, their models may be developed independent of each other. Considering how much of a market share Nissan has lost owing to slow updates and lack of exciting products, these steps should help them finally get back up to speed in India. And not just with entry-level cars either, but with products that customers aspire towards.