While the compact car Figo placed US carmaker Ford into a new growth trajectory in India, it is a sedan, which is driving momentum for Nissan in the country. The Japanese carmaker for the first time in India has registered monthly sales of over 5,000 units in the month of January, driven by its sedan Sunny.

The company, which is expected to add its 7-seater new passenger van Evalia to the product portfolio for the Indian market by the second half of this year, sold 5,168 units, all models put together in the domestic market in January. The previous highest monthly sales of Nissan in the domestic market were in November last year, when the company clocked close to 3,000 units.

Of the sales of 5,168 units, sedan Sunny accounted for 3,218 units, followed by Micra hatchback at 1,855 units, while the Teana premium sedan, X-Trail SUV and 370Z sports car together accounted for the remaining sales. It may be recalled that a couple of weeks ago, Nissan hiked the prices of Sunny petrol variants by Rs 5,000, while retaining the price for the diesel version, which is fetching more volumes for the company.

While Sunny has generated huge response in the market place, its compact model Micra is yet to pick up momentum. Its monthly sales are still in sub-2,000 units level. However, the company sells large volumes of Made in India Micra, in several overseas markets.

Stating that crossing the 5,000 sales mark, after only 20 months of operation, is a milestone for the company in India, Kiminobu Tokuyama, managing director, Nissan Motor India said the innovative Evalia urban-class vehicle, unveiled at the recent Delhi Auto Expo, will become the third model to be produced in Oragadam near Chennai from autumn this year and will bring even more choice to our customers.

The record sales form part of a growing momentum for Nissan in India following the launch of two all-new models in 18 months, with a third on the way, pointed out GM Singh, vice-chairman and managing director, Hover Automotive India, Nissan’s sales and marketing partner in India.

The company has said it is aiming for a total domestic volume of about 40,000 units for this financial year, compared with 13,030 units in 2010-11. However, it has sold little over 22,000 units between April 2011 and January 2012.

balachandarg

@mydigitalfc.com