Nissan Partners With Renault and Mahindra on India Plant

CHENNAI, India — Japanese automaker Nissan Motor will team with its French parent Renault and local carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra to build a $900 million assembly plant that will be one of the largest in India.

When the plant opens in late 2009, it will have the capacity to build 400,000 vehicles a year. To be located in the South, near similar facilities operated by Ford and Hyundai, the new factory will assemble versions of the Renault Logan compact and a new Mahindra utility vehicle, as well as unspecified models for all three brands.

Mahindra, which will control 50 percent of the venture, is a former partner of Ford in India. It builds a range of utility vehicles and passenger cars. An independent distributor is planning to import and market the Mahindra Scorpio in the United States in 2008.

In India, Renault vehicles will be sold through Mahindra's domestic sales channel, while Nissan will operate a separate distribution network. Late last year, Nissan walked away from a proposed deal in India in which it would have partnered with fellow Japanese manufacturer Suzuki, which controls India's largest automaker, Maruti.

© Source: article on insideline
Feel free to leave your comments below >>