Nissan to Expand India Dealer Network Fourfold

Nissan Motor Co. plans to quadruple its retail base in India to more than 300 outlets by the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017, mainly by opening dealerships in midsize cities, The Nikkei reports.

The company has said it aims to double its dealer network to 150 stores next year.

The Tokyo-based newspaper, which does not cite its sources, says the expansion is part of Nissan's goal of eventually boosting its share of India's car market to 8% from 1% last year.

The company aims to introduce one or two models per year in India and debut the budget-priced Datsun brand there in 2014. Nissan began producing cars in the country in 2010 at a factory in Chennai it operates with alliance partner Renault SA.