Nissan Is Here To Stay: MD Saurabh Vatsa Confirms Aggressive Product Launch Roadmap
The past!
In December 2024, a week before X'Mas, Frank Torres, the President of Nissan's Indian operation, did his bit to calm frayed nerves. Weeks ahead of Frank Torres' confidence-building assertions, Nissan's global travails including a projected 4 Billion USD+ record loss set panic racing.
From dealers to customers, there was a wall of worry. What will happen to Nissan India? What will happen to us? What will happen to our cars? Questions abounded. Mr Torres gamely went on record detailing how Nissan's Indian operations are looking healthier than ever.
After closing 2023-24 with about 50,000 units, Nissan India was all set to hit the 1 lakh yearly production mark at Oragadam - the Chennai factory it jointly ran with alliance partner Nissan. Back then, Mr. Torres also highlighted the fact that they were adding an additional shift at Oragadam to meet the 100 country export-potential for the newly introduced Magnite left-hand drive.
Mr. Torres also re-emphasized Nissan's new product strategy - an electric SUV, a mid-sized SUV, new variants of the Magnite and a 7 seat SUV. The launch pipeline seemed full, and by the end of 2026, Mr. Torres was confident of hitting over 80 % of production volume at Oragadam, where Nissan has an installed yearly capacity of 240,000 cars.
A week after Mr. Torres made his plans for India clear, Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi called for a hastily arranged press conference. I distinctly remember being in a state transport bus somewhere in the outskirts of Goa when I tuned in to the webcast. The press conference only added to the uncertainty.
Multiple events after the press conference - the botched merger, a constant stream of negative news from Yokohama, and a flurry of job cuts and production pauses made Mr. Torres' assertions seem like a lifetime ago. Especially for someone who's seen Ford and General Motors pack up and leave under much easier circumstances.
The present
Weeks earlier, we had an announcement that Nissan India would hive off its joint manufacturing Oragadam facility (where it held 51 %) to Renault. And just 10 days ago, news broke that board members wanted some factories shut down and that India could also be on the chopping block. The panic returned, despite Nissan putting out teasers for a new compact MPV and C-SUV.
While we stuck our necks out, piecing information together and putting out a story based on the preponderance of possibilities, even we couldn't but help wonder what really was going on behind the scenes.
So, when Nissan India reached out, and put its best face forward - of that of its Managing Director Saurabh Vatsa, we knew that good news was in the offing. And it was, right from when Mr. Vatsa addressed the assembled media personnel, dispelling every fear that one may have had about the brand exiting India.
The effortless communicator that he is, Mr Vatsa highlighted measure after measure that Nissan India was taking to make its Indian operations stronger. Here's a quick walkthrough,
- Nissan India was and is sticking to its word, maintaining the launch and update trajectory that the brand outlined during the X-Trail's unveil back in July 2024.
- The Magnite Facelift arrived on schedule, And Nissan pumped in 100 million euros towards this, for the Magnite was more than just a facelift. It was a re-engineering effort to make the car ready for left hand drive markets - a move that gave Nissan access to a 100 new emerging global markets across Asia, Africa and Latin America.
- 600 million euros are meant for the three new badge engineered cars - compact MPV, 5 seat C-SUV and 7 seat C-SUV, for development and tooling costs.
- The CNG trim, which was also promised at the time of the Magnite Facelift's launch is here.
- The Magnite is now E20 petrol ready - a measure that a brand about to exit India wouldn't - in Mr. Vatsa's words - 'have bothered taking'.
- Then came the reiteration: More cars are on the way! In fact, Nissan's production line at Oragadam has already begun producing test mules of the C-SUV (rebadged 3rd generation Renault Duster) and the B-MPV (rebadged Renault Triber). In weeks from now, he even expected us to see the first test mules of these cars hitting Indian roads in the run up to their 2026 launches.
The future!
In early 2026, Nissan will launch the Renault Triber-based sub-4 meter MPV in India. It will be a badge-engineered car, retaining the best that the Triber has to offer, and then adding Nissan's own styling philosophy and upgrades to the mix.
While Nissan's version of the Triber will be offered with a 1 liter-3 cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine as standard, along with manual and AMT options, a 1 liter turbo petrol engine could also be part of the variant mix.
In fact, a lot of Renault Triber owners have been asking for a little more power and torque, the addition of the 1 liter turbo petrol motor to the sub-4 meter Nissan compact MPV could be a strong, significant differentiating factor. While I did ask Mr. Vatsa this question, he wanted to hold some secrets back. Fair enough!
By the middle of 2026, the Nissan C-SUV, possibly called the all-new Terrano or something entirely different, will make its debut. The new compact SUV will share parts and platform with the 3rd generation Renault Duster, which is due in late 2025.
A strong petrol hybrid engine is expected to be a standout mechanical feature of the new Nissan compact SUV, which will rival the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara and more.
Given the fact that Nissan is making a comeback into this segment after years, expect the brand to pack in the best of what it has to offer in terms of features, engine and transmission options, and safety. As for pricing, Mr. Vatsa said, 'money for value', yes money-for-value, and he repeated it multiple times, as though to drive home the point. We'll see!
As 2026 turns over into 2027, the top-of-the-line Nissan SUV - a flagship if you will for the India factory, will arrive in the form of the 7 seat version of the C-SUV. It won't be a '5+2 seater, but much more', said Mr. Vatsa. He added that it will have significant 'engineering changes and derive inspiration from the global Nissan flagship - the Patrol'
Sounds very good! To bring in more clarity, the new 7 seat Nissan SUV will be a derivative of the Renault Boreal/Dacia Bigster. Like its 5 seat sibling, it will share parts and platform with the Renault Boreal. This means a petrol strong hybrid, multiple gearbox options, and even perhaps an all wheel drive layout!
Nissan is also gung-ho about its plans to launch more CBUs (completely built units), to make its portfolio rival the best in the country. We won't be surprised to see the mighty Nissan Patrol luxury SUV arrive as a range topper. Salman Khan owns one, no two!
Now. what will all these cars do for Nissan?
Four things.
One, it'll help Nissan sweat its assets out.
Two, it will give dealers something to sell, service and accessorize.
Three, it will give Nissan fans and buyers something to look forward to.
Four, hope. Hope of a better future, hope that the tomorrow brings with it something really special. Nissan needs a lot of that, NOW!
As of today, Nissan has the capacity to produce 240,000 cars a year from Oragadam, which is 50 % of installed capacity, with the other 50 % earmarked for Renault.
Nissan India has managed to produce about 100,000 cars last year, using up about 40 % of installed capacity. The 3 new cars that Nissan will soon launch is meant to bring in another 100,000 yearly units, domestic and exports put together.
So, by 2027, Nissan should be able to produce about 200,000 cars each year, equally divided between India and export markets. This will mean an 83 % capacity utilization, leaving only a sixth to probably produce the electric version of the Magnite.
Although Mr Vatsa held back on revealing Nissan's EV plans, it's likely that the brand would electrify the Magnite in time for the CAFE-3 deadline (by end 2027). Remember, Renault wants to electrify the Kiger. The Magnite is the Kiger's brawnier brother!
So, there you have it, Nissan's India plans in a nutshell, The Japanese brand wants to stay back, and thrive in what is one of the most exciting and challenging car markets of the world, and we couldn't be richer for it.