Interview: Trevor Mann, executive vice president, Nissan Motor Company.

On Nissan products

The Sunny has done really well as far as we are concerned, it has got a good market share but the Micra has performed a little less than I would’ve expected it to. We’ve got positive models coming up – a facelift of the Micra, a Micra Classic, which will be a more entry-level offering, the H79N (the re-badged Duster) and the K2 (Datsun hatchback) coming later in the year. We are also looking at what could be a good aspiratonal model, a halo car that many of our brand-loyal Indian customers would like. We haven’t decided yet what it will be, but it will have significant volume and will be localised at our plant in Chennai.

On the dealer network 

We’ve been launching our dealer network; we are working with HAI to put a network in place so that we can grow. Our dealers have invested a lot with showrooms and we are proud of that, and the answer to all their problems is getting the volumes, so that they can recover the money they have put in and the investment they have made. There are some obstacles, but we are on track and we have to look forward. I can say that the worst is behind us. 

On the new compact SUV 

I don’t want to say too much at this early stage, but it’s different from the Renault Duster. There is quite big differentiation in terms of body panels and it looks like a very strong vehicle, so we are very excited about how it will perform in the market.