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As India emerges one of the top markets for it, the Japanese auto major Nissan on Thursday said it will strengthen R&D and global digital hub.
It will recruit 1,500 personnel including 1,000 at the R&D centre in Chennai, and the rest for its first Global Digital Hub in Kerala, said Peyman Kargar, Chairman of Nissan for Africa, West Asia and India and Senior Vice-President, Nissan Group.
The company has around 7,000 people at its R&D centre already who are doing development work for vehicles in India and handling engineering activities for its alliance with Renault.
He told reporters on the sidelines of the SIAM convention here, the company has invested around ₹6,100 crore in India since 2009 and will continue to invest for the expansion at the Chennai plant, which is only 40 per cent utilised right now. At present the plant has an annual production capacity of 4.8 lakh units. “Our aim is to ensure operations in India are best in class and that India becomes an even more significant global hub for Nissan and the alliance in manufacturing, engineering and R&D,” Kargar said, adding that the company’s strategy is to strengthen both the brands Nissan and Datsun across India.
Sales network
He said the company has made the mistake of underestimating the need for sales network, but going forward Nissan is looking to double its sales and service touch points in the next three years from 270 at present.
On future products, he said Nissan will bring the best of its worldwide line-up to India, building on its technological leadership in electrification and connected cars.
Meanwhile, the company will hire people for expansions but will reduce excess manpower starting with its manufacturing vertical.
“We will grow and our workforce will shift towards highly skilled jobs to lead the technological changes coming to the auto industry in India. We are also going to offer a voluntary departure for excess people in areas where we don’t require,” he said without disclosing exact numbers.
It will be all ‘voluntary’ and no employee will be forced by any means.
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