After the launch of Nano from Tata Motors, all the car companies are in competition to make more cheaper and better cars profitably. 

World wide small cars are being bought and sold but as the demand in US and Western Europe has gone down, carmakers have moved towards the narrow but crowded market of India, China and South Africa.

Executives say serving this burgeoning group of new car buyers requires a fundamental revision of the way cars are designed. 

On 27th Oct, Nissan, Japan's third-largest automaker called members of the media and briefed them on the V-Platform "V" for versatility in Thailand, India, and China, the architecture that Nissan’s Micra will be based on. 

The V platform will form the base for their new small car to be made in India. The car will be made at the Chennai plant which will be operational next year. Not only that, but Nissan will be launching two additional models in addition to the small car as well. China and Thailand are the other two major countries where these cars will be made. While production in Thailand begins in March 2010, Chennai will start making cars in May 2010.

Vincent Cobee, who oversees the V car platform globally, told reporters in Mumbai on Tuesday, “Europe can wait. India cannot”.

Around 100 engineers from India, China and Thailand have been trained at Nissan's Global Product Engineering Centre (GPEC) for the new project. Nissan's engineers say the keys to success are keeping the car's weight down and sourcing 80 to 90 percent of parts locally. Massive global sales and cheap, globally integrated manufacturing are also crucial to profitability.

Even the simplification of cars will help as the new V cars will have 18 percent fewer parts than Nissan's current compacts. Tata Nano is the best example of this. 

Nissan is having a target of selling million “V” cars a year by 2013. Nissan sold 3.4 million vehicles globally even last year. 

After the V hatchback hits the streets in 2010, Nissan plans to unveil a sedan in 2011 and a compact multipurpose vehicle. After the conference on V cars, the company has revealed the pictures of all three upcoming models. Just have a look at it. 

Executives also said they plan to sell the V cars in the United States in 2011, with a manufacturing base somewhere in the America. But currently, Nissan is expanding aggressively in all three countries India, china and Thailand.

Top Selling Nissan Car Prices & Specifications:
Nissan X-Trail Comfort (Diesel)
Nissan X-Trail X-Pecial (Diesel)
Nissan X-Trail Elegance (Diesel)
Nissan Teana Base Model (Petrol)

Related News:
Nissan’s sales results for six months period from April to Sept
Nissan Targets Electric Car Segment in Indian Market
Nissan Releases New-Spec Nissan GT-R
Nissan to launch small cars in India

Related Books:
Nissan Pick-Ups:
Haynes Nissan Pick- Ups '98- '04
Nissan: Datsun 210/1200 1973-81

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Posted by Naresh Koshti on 30 October, 2009 11:44:29 AM IST #