Nissan Motor Co. Ltd hasn't been affected materially by the 11 March earthquake and tsunami in Japan
He was attending the launch of the first vehicle made by the joint venture partnership between Ashok Leyland Ltd and Nissan--a 1.25 tonne light commercial vehicle (LCV) being made at the Indian company's Hosur manufacturing facility.
Ashok Leyland Nissan Vehicles Ltd will make two more LCVs from this plant in the next three years before moving to a brand new site, where the second phase of production will begin, said V. Sumantran, chairman, Nissan Ashok Leyland Power Train Ltd, one of three joint ventures between the two. Palmer is also chairman of Ashok Leyland Nis san Vehicles.
The partnership has used 50% of its planned initial investment of `2,300 crore.
The Dost LCV will have com pressed natural gas (CNG), air conditioned and non AC variants.
Exports will begin after a year. The vehicle will be marketed under the Ashok Leyland banner for which the joint venture has built a network of 25 dealers, each with several hubs.
Exports will begin after a year. The vehicle will be marketed under the Ashok Leyland banner for which the joint venture has built a network of 25 dealers, each with several hubs.
The engine for the LCV was developed from scratch by Ashok Leyland under Nissan Ashok Leyland Power train, while the body and vehicle design is by Nissan. The joint venture will roll out 300,000 units of three LCV models in the next three years, of which more than 200,000 will be in the less than 3.5 tonne range. The three LCVs will be built on three different platforms, which will mean significant differences in their design, Sumantran said.
(Source-: mintlive)