Japanese carmaker Nissan has confirmed that, starting FY2017-18, it plans to launch one new model every year in India. The first product in this new model journey will be launched at the Auto Expo 2018.
Speaking to Autocar Professional on the sidelines of the SIAM annual convention in New Delhi today, Guillaume Sicard, president - Nissan India Operations, said that the company is seeing growth in India and has a near-2% market share. “We have reached Japanese-style sustainable growth,” said Sicard.
In the April-July 2016 period, Nissan Motor India has sold a total of 18,164 cars, increasing its market share to 1.90% from 1.61% in April-July 2015 when it had sold 14,138 cars.
The recently launched Datsun Redigo is seeing decent traction in the market and has sold a total of 7,441 units since May 2016. Sicard also revealed that “every 6-9 months, there will be some product intervention with the Redigo.” He added that the Redigo currently has a 6-8 week waiting period, this for the first time for a Datsun in India.
Sicard's newfound confidence stems from the fact that Nissan Motor India has posted a smart performance in the latest 2016 JD Power Sales Satisfaction Index study. Nissan ranks No. 2 after Toyota, with Honda taking third place. Importantly, it has improved its ranking, having been third in the 2015 SSI study.
From the looks of it, Nissan is on firmer ground in India now but what will be crucial will be the new crop of products which will start rolling out from 2018.
Also read: Nissan India doubles its domestic sales in August