The Hindu Business Line : Nissan launches X-Trail sports vehicle

Mr Yasuaki Hashimoto, Vice-President, Asia and Oceania Sales and Marketing, Nissan Motor Co Ltd, at the launch of X-Trail in Chennai on Monday. - Bijoy Ghosh

Chennai , Aug. 16

NISSAN Motor Co Ltd today launched its sports utility vehicle, X-Trail, in India in two grades - Comfort with an ex-showroom price in Chennai of Rs 21.08 lakh and Elegance with a tag of Rs 24.14 lakh.

The success of the X-Trail will decide Nissan's strategy for India, for which the company is studying various options, according to Mr Yasuaki Hashimoto, Vice-President - General Overseas Market, Marketing and Sales (Asia, Oceania), Nissan.

He said Nissan was entering the country with an SUV that had clocked sales of 140,000 units worldwide in 2003 to establish the Nissan brand in India. "We are not entering the market with huge investments and huge advertising, but to understand the market," he told a press conference here today.

Mr Hashimoto would not disclose how many units of the X-Trail the company hoped to sell in India, nor would he spell out the company's plans. Nissan was studying the options before it, he said.

However, he identified two areas - sourcing of parts and English language call centres - as two options the company had in the country. Nissan had investigated them but had not yet reached a decision, he said.

The X-Trail would be imported as completely built units from Nissan's plant in Japan and would attract a duty of 104 per cent. The X-Trail comes with a 2.2-litre common rail diesel engine and six-speed manual transmission.

Nissan has appointed one dealer each in Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai and would look at expanding the dealer network depending on the market.

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