Nissan dismisses exit rumours, reaffirms commitment to Indian market
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New Delhi: Automaker Nissan has firmly denied any plans to exit the Indian market, dismissing ongoing speculation about its future in the country. Instead, the company has laid out an ambitious roadmap to strengthen its presence, including the launch of three new products by early 2027 and the expansion of its dealership network.
Speaking at a virtual press conference, Nissan Motor India Managing Director Saurabh Vatsa clarified that recent developments, such as the dilution of Nissan’s stake in its manufacturing joint venture, should not be misinterpreted as a signal of withdrawal. "It is really important that I must put to rest any speculation that Nissan is planning to exit India and Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd (RNAIPL) stake dilution is an indication of that," he said.
Earlier this year, on March 31, Renault announced its decision to acquire partner Nissan's 51 per cent stake in their Indian joint venture RNAIPL. Despite this restructuring, Vatsa reiterated Nissan’s long-term commitment to the Indian market, noting the company’s nearly 60-year presence in the country. "It's very important to understand that we are absolutely well entrenched in India... our production plans, our future capacity all are in place. They are all secure, nothing is out of sync, we are here and we are here to stay," he emphasised.
As part of its product strategy, Nissan will launch a seven-seater B-segment MPV in the first quarter of the 2026 calendar year, followed by five- and seven-seater C-segment SUVs by early 2027. Vatsa also highlighted Nissan’s goal to sell one lakh vehicles each in the domestic and export markets during this fiscal year.
While acknowledging the exit of some dealer partners, Vatsa stressed that the company continues to onboard new sales associates. Currently operating around 160 sales outlets, Nissan plans to increase this number to 180 by the end of the year.
In a move to offer more fuel-efficient alternatives, Nissan announced that its Magnite SUV will now be available with a government-approved CNG retrofitment kit. The complete kit will be offered at a competitive additional cost of ₹74,999.
The rollout of the CNG retrofitment will be phased. In the initial phase, customers can order installations through authorised dealerships in Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, and Karnataka. The second phase will see the service expand to additional states across the country.
With PTI inputs
