Nissan Targets 5% Market Share in India

Nissan Motor Co. aims to hike its share of India’s new-car market from less than 2% in the fiscal year ended March 31 to 5% by fiscal 2022-2023.

Doing so will mean reversing Nissan’s sagging sales in India. Last year the company’s India affiliate saw volume shrink to 52,800 units from 57,300 vehicles in the previous 12-month period. Exports from India plunged 38% to 67,800 units.

The downturn pushed back Nissan’s timetable to achieve a 5% market share by two years. The company’s new three-year strategy in India is to add new SUV/crossover models, push into rural markets and double its dealer network from the current 270 outlets.

Last month the company said it will market only premium brands under its Nissan marque. The entry-level Datsun brand will focus on mass-market sales in India.

The new-product initiative will start in 2019 with the debut of the Kicks, a sporty compact crossover that replaces the Juke. At least two more SUV/crossovers will follow under the Nissan and Datsun brands.

The two brands are supported locally by technical center and assembly plant in Chennai. The factory, which opened in 2008, is shared with alliance partner Renault SA and has capacity to build 480,000 vehicles annually. The facility’s current Nissan products are the Micra supermini, Sunny midsize sedan and Terrano small SUV.