Photo: Nissan
In one of their least popular moves of recent years, Nissan moved production of the Micras it sold in Europe from Sunderland to Chennai, India. As a result, the popularity of this small hatchback dropped, forcing the company to reconsider its decision.
French carmaker Renault has already revealed that it will build the next Micra model in 2016 at one of its French factories, indicating that this model will most likely share its architecture with the Clio.
So where does that leave India? Well, according to a recent report from Indian Autos Blog, there will actually be a different Micra model designed and built specifically for the India market and based on the V-Platform.
Two different cars sold under the same name is quite strange, considering companies like Ford and Hyundai have tried to cut costs by joining European cars with ones sold in other markets. Ford, for example, will probably make a Ka for Europe that's virtually the same as the Figo for Asia.
However, Nissan's move is similar to what Toyota is doing. Its Yaris supermini assembled in France is totally different to the one made in Thailand.
Getting back to the next-gen Micra, the European version is expected to be based on the CMF modular platform, the same one used by the Qashqai. This will make it more technologically advanced. Emerging markets will have to stick with the older platform, since price is more important than tech there.
“Investments Nissan India has made on the V-Platform is significant”, a person in the know tells IAB. “It doesn’t justify to let go of the V-Platform based on our investments, and spend more on CMF. Instead we will modify the V-Platform."
So where does that leave India? Well, according to a recent report from Indian Autos Blog, there will actually be a different Micra model designed and built specifically for the India market and based on the V-Platform.
Two different cars sold under the same name is quite strange, considering companies like Ford and Hyundai have tried to cut costs by joining European cars with ones sold in other markets. Ford, for example, will probably make a Ka for Europe that's virtually the same as the Figo for Asia.
However, Nissan's move is similar to what Toyota is doing. Its Yaris supermini assembled in France is totally different to the one made in Thailand.
Getting back to the next-gen Micra, the European version is expected to be based on the CMF modular platform, the same one used by the Qashqai. This will make it more technologically advanced. Emerging markets will have to stick with the older platform, since price is more important than tech there.
“Investments Nissan India has made on the V-Platform is significant”, a person in the know tells IAB. “It doesn’t justify to let go of the V-Platform based on our investments, and spend more on CMF. Instead we will modify the V-Platform."
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