Nissan To Reveal Mystery Car And Brand Strategy In India On October 18

Published September 27, 2022
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3 min read

The carmaker could introduce one of its global EVs in the country

Nissan’s current lineup consists of the Magnite and Kicks SUVs.
Upcoming Nissan car could be an EV, possibly the Ariya SUV.
If the carmaker chooses to bring its global models, they are likely to arrive via the CBU route.
Information about upcoming localised models is also expected.

Nissan India is set to make a new announcement on October 18, possibly about its next vehicle and brand strategy in the Indian market. The carmaker currently offers only the Magnite subcompact SUV and Kicks compact SUV in its lineup – and although the Magnite has been selling in decent volumes, it’s been a while since we saw a new product from the carmaker.

New Nissan Ariya EV Could Come To India

Given the industry-wide move towards electrification, it’s possible that Nissan could introduce either an EV or an electrified (hybrid) vehicle. Overseas, it offers the Ariya as a futuristic electric SUV with over 500km of range. It gets a 63kWh and 87kWh battery pack, premium features and Nissan’s ProPilot driver assistance tech.

The Ariya could be on the cards for India, but it’ll likely be an expensive SUV that should be brought in as a completely built-up unit (CBU). It retails for the equivalent of Rs 38 lakh to Rs 50 lakh in Europe, but could be significantly pricier in India.

Nissan Ariya Electric Crossover Coupe SUV Revealed With Up To 610km Range

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Other than the Ariya, Nissan might choose to resurrect the X-Trail name in India. The current-generation X-Trail is available with mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains in Europe. If it comes to our shores, the SUV is likely to be a CBU as well.

What we’d like to see from Nissan

With Nissan’s announcement still a couple of weeks away, there’s room to speculate on which global models the carmaker could bring to India to revive its fortunes. Without local production, vehicles such as the Ariya and X-Trail will be far from volume sellers for the brand, but more interesting models, namely the Nissan Z, could help bolster the carmaker's image in India.

The new Nissan Z is a two-seater convertible powered by a 400PS twin-turbo V6 engine paired with a 6-speed manual or 9-speed automatic transmission. Its retro styling and traditional sportscar layout (front-engine, rear-wheel drive) is sure to make it an instant hit in India.

Moreover, it retails from Rs 33 lakh in the US, so despite India’s hefty custom duties and taxes, it’s likely to be priced in the ballpark of a top-spec BMW 3 Series or Audi A4. With the 2024 Ford Mustang’s launch still some way away, the Z car could be an interesting choice for the Indian market.

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We are excited to hear from Nissan about its plans for the Indian market. If the carmaker decides to bring one of its global models to India, the CBU imports are likely to be on the pricey side, but they will be cutting-edge, competent cars and SUVs nevertheless. It remains to be seen which localised products could be lined up for India, but we should get some more info as we approach the October 18 date.

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