Bajaj: Small car project with Nissan will not overlap with Ashok-Nissan project

Just a day after Nissan Motor Co. told reporters that it is holding exploratory talks with Ashok Leyland Ltd. to jointly roll out a premium compact car in the price range of US$4,500-5,000, Bajaj Auto Ltd. has categorically maintained that the project will not overlap with its small car project, codenamed “ULC,” with Nissan. “The project is proceeding as planned,” Bajaj Auto vice-president for business development S. Ravikumar said in a statement. According to Renault officials, the small car that will be developed by Bajaj Auto, featuring its patented DTSi technology, and marketed by Renault-Nissan alliance in India will be an ultra-compact car. Carlos Ghosn, Renault-Nissan chairman and chief executive officer added that the car, scheduled for release in 2012, will give an average of more than 20 kilometers per liter. (March 4, 2010)