Nissan To Launch Low Cost Small Car By 2014

Published: Monday, March 12, 2012, 12:15 [IST]

Japanese carmaker Nissan is set to launch an entry-level small car with Indian partner and the country's 2nd largest commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland. Nissan's small car will hit the roads by 2014 and is expected to be priced between 2-4 lakhs bang in the range of India's best selling car, Maruti Suzuki Alto.

Presently, Nissan has a joint venture with Ashok Leyland to produce light commercial vehicles for the Indian market. They have already launched their first product- the Dost light commercial vehicle. Their second product will be the Nissan Evalia MPV which Ashok Leyland will sell as the Style.

Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President of Nissan said: “We are working on multiple options of price-entry vehicles for the Indian market. One of them is being developed with engineering department of Ashok Leyland. This car will be launched around 2014.”

Adding that the car will be competitively priced at a range of 2-4 lakhs, Mr. Palmer did not divulge the other details of the car. The Micra is Nissan's only small car currently sold in India. The Micra is available with both petrol and diesel engines and is priced between Rs.4.14-6.26 lakh.

Nissan's small car could also be the Datsun low cost car that we had earlier reported.