Nano has rivals! Nissan, Renault up in arms

Detroit: India's auto buyers may soon be spoilt for choice. Nissan and partner Renault are teaming up with Bajaj Auto to challenge the Tata Nano. Nissan is keen to price the challenger in the same range as the Nano, and is all set to roll it out in the next 2-3 years.
It's not just Detroit that is looking at India as a potential market and manufacturing base. Japanese automaker Nissan has aggressive plans for the Indian market. Along with its alliance partner Renault, Nissan will start producing nearly 400,000 cars per year from its Chennai plant that will go on stream in 2010.
And while this will include the range of Nissan products geared to cater the Indian market, the company is also in advanced talks with Bajaj Auto to roll out a possible competitor to the Nano.
“We clearly think there's an opportunity there [India] in that very low price, entry level segment of the market. Of course, the recent events at the Delhi motor show have shown that there's a lot of interest in that segment,” says Corporate Vice-President, Nissan, Simon Sproule.
It's not a done deal, but since Nissan wants such a vehicle on the road by 2011, a decision will be taken quite early. Then there's the price factor and Nissan believes it will also target what has emerged as the sweet spot in this sector.
“Clearly it has to be four wheels, four doors, has to take a certain number of people and their luggage but it has to be at a price that is genuinely affordable for the growing middle class in India. And that price point seems to be coming at around one lakh,” says Sproule.
But beyond the nano-thinking, Nissan is also going to start rolling out larger vehicles in India, especially in the commercial vehicle sector in partnership with Ashok Leyland.