Nissan appoints Hover Automotive India as sole and exclusive distributor in India

Mumbai July 11 –Nissan Motor Co and Hover Automotive India strengthened their four-year partnership by signing a sole and exclusive distribution agreement in India.

The agreement will directly support an acceleration of Nissan’s sales growth within the market, enhance the company’s sales and marketing strategy and build customer touch points across the region.

The move will also help to further imbed and localize Nissan within the Indian market. The popular Micra hatchback and Sunny sedan are already produced at the company’s Oragadam Plant near Chennai, and a third home-grown model - the Evalia urban-class utility vehicle - will be added to the production lines later this year.

HAI’s extensive knowledge of the Indian market will also help integrate the specific needs of Nissan’s growing customer base with the company’s mid and long-term product and business planning.

Under the terms of the agreement, HAI will undertake sales and marketing, customer relations, dealer development, sales and marketing related public relations, training and aftersales service in India as Nissan’s exclusive distributor. Hove Automotive will continue to operate as an independent company with an exclusive distribution agreement with Nissan.

Nissan Motor India Private Limited (NMIPL) will remain as Nissan’s overall business management company in India, controlling the functions of corporate planning, product planning, total customer satisfaction, accessory parts development, vehicle and service parts logistics, finance, corporate communications, external affairs and export management.

Nissan appointed HAI as its service partner for marketing, sales, after-sales service and dealer development in India in 2008.

Nissan’s sales in India rose from approximately 200 units in 2008 to 33,268 units in 2011.

Last year Nissan doubled the production capacity of its Oragadam Plant to 400,000 units per year.