Nissan-Renault firms up plans to launch half a dozen SUVs in India

Japanese auto major Nissan – which along with alliance partner Renault recently announced fresh investments of Rs 5300 crore in India – has firmed up plans to introduce nearly half a dozen SUVs in the country to treble volumes over the next two years.First off the block, will be SUV X-Trail, which will be imported as a completely built units (CBU). Two more mid-size SUVs – a five-seater and a seven-seater – will follow soon after to take on the likes of Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder. India would be the sole production hub for half of these five models planned for launch by 2026, which also includes an affordable EV.

Frank Torres, Divisional Vice President AMIEO Region Business Transformation & President Nissan India Operations said, “We are working on introducing new models designed, developed, and manufactured in the country. In line with our global business plan named the ARC, we are set to introduce three new models into the Indian market by 2026. These models will primarily be sold in the domestic market, and will also be exported out of the country.”

Nissan sold about 30,000 units in the Indian market in the last financial year. With the company set to commence deliveries of SUV X-Trail shortly, annual sales in the ongoing fiscal are expected to be higher at around 35,000 units.

Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, told ET, the company has started work to reboot its operations in India and several initiatives have been lined up to expand and strengthen footprint over the next two years. “With the X-Trail we are relaunching our CBU business. There will be new product interventions in the fast-growing SUV segment which will help bring in incremental volumes and strengthen the domestic business. Additionally, we are looking at expanding exports.”

Nissan is working on exporting SUV Magnite to 40 countries by the end of this fiscal, from the current 15. Vehicle exports are targeted to be increased to 100,000 units per annum by 2026.Torres informed studies are also underway to assess which vehicles from the global portfolio can be launched in India between 2027-2030.He said as far as electric cars are concerned, Nissan expects 20-25% of new car sales in the country to come in from electric by 2030. The company has commenced work of evaluating future product interventions in the segment.

Renault-Nissan last year announced fresh investments of $600 million (about Rs 5,300 crore) in India as part of their business transformation plan.

The rebooting of Indian operations comes at a time when Nissan and Renault have decided to restructure their equity collaboration and put both firms on an equal footing in terms of shareholding. As part of the deal, the two companies have pledged to pool more resources into key projects in South America, India and Europe, involving markets, vehicles and technologies. Nissan has also said it will invest in Renault’s new battery-electric vehicle unit.