Japanese auto major Nissan’s plans to revamp its Indian operations remain intact and it is looking to increase headcount in the country despite the ongoing global turmoil, according to a senior company official.
The company, which has increased the workforce at its Chennai plant by 600 to add a third shift, does not expect the move to cut 9,000 jobs and cut production by 20 percent globally as long as it remains competitive in the market. Will remain, Nissan India operations president Frank Torres told PTI.
“Nissan is betting big on India…and the plans (for India) remain intact despite this global turmoil,” he said. Torres was responding to a question on whether the announcement of global job and production cuts would impact Nissan’s Indian operations.
“Contrary to perception, in India, we are strengthening our members, increasing our production, and we have added approximately 600 new jobs at our manufacturing plant in Chennai,” Torres said.
“This move is to help transition production. We are expanding production with two new models very soon…This is despite global action, including restructuring. We do not anticipate that The impact will be in India because our schemes remain untouched.
Of course, the main thing for us is to remain competitive. Because, at the end of the day, that’s what matters most within Nissan.” Earlier in July this year, Nissan India had announced that it was looking to launch five models in the next 30 months as it ramps up its operations. Wants to bring rapid change. -Growing Indian car market.
The company aims to triple its domestic and export volumes to Rs 1 lakh per annum by the end of FY26. In November this year, Nissan announced that globally, it would cut 9,000 jobs and 20 percent of production as part of a turnaround plan and cut costs by 400 billion yen ($2.6 billion).
“As far as the plans for India are concerned, there is no risk, or no impact on India, they will remain intact. We will remain competitive, in terms of product, in terms of cost, in terms of everything , including our partners, suppliers and dealers,” Torres said.
The third shift at the Chennai plant began a few weeks ago, as the company targets full capacity utilization of the manufacturing plant.
“That means we have developed an entirely new shift. And then also looking forward to 2026, where we will need to keep our manufacturing plant at full capacity with both lines across three shifts. As of today “We are modifying one of those new models,” Torres said.
If the company achieves its volume forecast with new models by the end of 2026, he said, “this will push plant utilization to more than 80 percent, which will require more headcount than today”.
“Increasing headcount is part of our commitment. We have made a commitment to the Government of Tamil Nadu to increase our headcount next year based on new investment, and we are well supported by the Government of Tamil Nadu.”
Additionally, he said, the Renault-Nissan alliance committed to creating more than 2,000 jobs not only in manufacturing but also in other areas such as research and development as part of its $600 million investment plan announced in 2023 Is.
Torres also said the company is now revamping a line to embrace new technology like EVs ahead of the planned launch of electric SUVs.
“We plan to grow our volumes in both domestic and export markets. We aim to grow our domestic and export volumes three times by FY26 compared to FY23… Our plans remain intact, and new models Our plans remain intact,” Torres stressed.
When asked about sales growth, Torres said that in the current financial year 2024-25, Nissan India is expected to achieve total sales of over 1.05 lakh units on the back of its advanced compact SUV Magnite as against 72,666 units sold in the last financial year. Is seeing an increase of more than 45 percent. ,
He said that with the introduction of the left-hand drive version of the Magnite, the company has expanded its export market from just 14 countries to more than 65 countries in 2023.
The company is targeting to export more than 74,200 units in 2024-25 as against 42,597 in the last financial year.
In the domestic market, Nissan India expects sales to grow 4 per cent to 31,155 units in 2024-25, from 30,065 in the last fiscal.
