Nissan launching Micra in July

Nissan yesterday confirmed that it will launch it's much awaited global city car, the Micra/March in India in July. The car, based on the V-Platform, will begin production in India in May 2010. Nissan-Renault's Chennai plant will be up and running by March this year and the Micra will be the first car to roll out of the factory. The Japanese carmaker will start exporting the small car from end of 2010 to European markets. While speaking to Dow Jones Newswires, Kiminobu Tokuyama, Nissan India's managing director, "We are well on track to open the new factory in March. Production will start in May and the first hatchback... will be sold from July."

Nissan aims to make a strong hold in the Indian market with a mass production vehicle like the Micra, as compared to small volume players like the Teana and the X-Trail. With a competitive price tag for the Micra, Nissan aims to take on its Japanese competitors like Suzuki, Toyota and Honda along with other players like VW, Tata and FIAT. Kiminobu Tokuyama concluded saying, "It's not too late, we are ready to challenge. We have come here to become a major player..."