Nissan to introduce iconic sports car 370Z next month

Japanese automaker Nissan today announced to introduce its iconic sports car model 370Z next month in India.

"The new sports car model 370Z would be introduced in India from January, and shall be third in the series of fully imported cars launched here, after Teana and X-Trail," company spokesperson, Suresh Rangarajan, told reporters.

The company has plans to introduce four models in India under its fully imported category cars, and is yet to decide on the fourth model, he said.

"The fourth model proposed to be imported by Nissan and launched here is likely to be an SUV," sources said.

"Nissan has global market share of 5.67% and targets to achieve 5.5% market share in India within 3 to 5 years span post the launch of a manufacturing facility at the upcoming plant in Chennai, by May 2010," managing director and CEO Nissan Motor India, Kiminobu Tokuyama, said.

He was here to inaugurate the first dealer outlet of Nissan in Gujarat and the ninth in India.

Nissan has already decided to stop production of its MICRA model of cars at the UK manufacturing plant and shift its production at the upcoming plant in Chennai, Tokuyama said.

"Chennai plant having the V-Platform facility shall be initially manufacutring premium hatch-back cars in the B-plus segment, and shall be the hub for global sourcing," Tokuyama said.

"The company plans to export 110 thousand units in the first year to more than 100 countries, especially 30 countries in Europe," he added.

The upcoming Chennai manufacturing plant is amongst the five new global compact car platforms developed by Nissan, besides China, Thailand and Mexico, he said.

The fifth location of new global compact car platform is yet to be decided, he said.