Nissan has big plans for small cars

Indias Bajaj Auto will set up a 50-50 joint venture with Renault-Nissan to produce a no-frills four-door four-seater mini-car to take on Tata Motors Nano. The car, named ULC, will be priced at Rs1 lakh (US$2,321) ex-showroom, and will be sold starting in 2011. The car will be manufactured at Bajaj’s Chakan plant. The plant will produce 400,000 cars per year. Apart from the ULC, Nissan plans to sell more than 100,000 vehicles in India by 2012 through 55 dealerships. (June 30, 2008)