Japanese car-maker Nissan plans to launch the automatic transmission variants of the Micra and Sunny cars.

“The continuous variable transmission (CVT) model will give 10 per cent better fuel efficiency than the current models. It will also give out lesser emissions. Globally, we have sold 12 million CVT units and our target is 20 million by 2016,” said Toshiyuki Shiga, the global COO of Nissan Motor Company.

Apart from the CVT variants, Nissan also plans to launch a compact SUV and the Datsun brand in fiscal year 2013. By 2016, Nissan wants to launch 10 new models in the country.

The Datsun brand is making a comeback with a focus on India and Indonesia. The sub-Rs 4 lakh car will be targeted at first-time buyers, said Shiga.

Nissan is considering setting up a separate dealership network for Datsun. Currently, Nissan has a long-term partnership with Hoover Automotive India for Sunny, Micra and Evalia models. Under this, there are 95 sales outlets. The target is to take it to 300 by 2016.

The company’s market share in India is 1.5 per cent, at volumes of 50,000 units. Next fiscal, it is targeting sales of one lakh vehicles. By 2016, Nissan wants to capture a 10 per cent market share.

Nissan, along with Renault, has invested around Rs 4,500 crore in a manufacturing facility at Oragadam, near Chennai. The peak capacity of the plant is four lakh vehicles, which is expected to be reached in a couple of years.

Takayuki Ishida, Managing Director and CEO, Nissan Motor India, said the options of expanding existing facility or setting up a new facility, within or outside Tamil Nadu, are “under study”.

>Swetha.kannan@thehindu.co.in

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