B02A-FR-for-Sketch-Unveil

While the report cites an unnamed source familiar with the development, the source does say that more than 30 units will be produced in the first trial production that will commence in November 2009. It has also been learnt that the equipment at the press shop where the manufacture of a car begins with the sheets of steel being cut and pressed into desired shapes is in place. The shop features a 1,000-tonne press from Renault’s plant in Sandouville, France, and a 2,700-tonne press supplied by Rotem of Korea, and the paint shop equipment has come from Geico of Italy and Taikesha of Japan.

However, Nissan Motor India spokesperson declined comment on specific production schedules. However, he indicated that the Chennai plant’s construction is going on full swing to meet the company's May 2010 deadline for launch of its new small car in the country. These upcoming Micra hatchback, made on Nissan’s global compact car platform, will debut at the 2010 Geneva motor show.

Even though the global economic downturn had compelled its French partner in the joint venture to put its India plans on the backburner, Nissan India has reaffirmed that in less than a year, it expects to have a new factory that will churn out 200,000 cars a year, most of them meant for exports. It will begin its shipments during H2 CY 2010, and will export 110,000 units in 2011, increasing this figure to 180,000 units in the future. It is to be mentioned that a major chunk of exports has been earmarked for the European markets, including UK.

According to ‘The Hindubusiness Line’, nearly 2,500 labourers, working for as many as 15 contractors, are engaged in the construction of the plant that will sit on an area of 300,000 sq metres. Speculation was also pretty rife that the company’s first engine the first engine was assembled on September 14 and trial production of some parts started in August. By the time Nissan rolls out its first model in May 2010, regular employees at the plant will more than double to 1,500 from 700 now. At full production, in 2012, it will have nearly 3,000 employees. Training for the core staff has started at Nissan plants in the UK and Japan, with most of the assembly line workers are from nearby areas, with engineering diplomas. The uniqueness of the assembly system is that it is built in such a way that several types and models of cars could be put together on the same line.

Furthermore, it has also been learnt that Nissan India’s supplier’s park will house about 20 vendors, including Unipress, Tenneco Exhaust India, Rieter Nittoku Automotive and Tacle India. Some of the suppliers have started constructing their own plants.

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