The company, which has remained a marginal player in India in the two decades of its presence, plans to launch three new models in quick succession in early 2026. This is part of a strategy to expand beyond its sole volume driver, the Magnite compact SUV, and revive sales.
Espinosa said the India push is an integral part of ‘Re:Nissan’, the turnaround plan he laid out soon after taking office in March. The plan aims to restart growth, reduce costs and reposition the brand for a competitive electric future. “India is a very important market for us. We are committed to it and will continue to leverage its strong competitiveness in terms of technology and cost,” he told ET on the sidelines of the Japan Mobility Show.
Earlier this year, as part of its global restructuring, Nissan sold its 51% stake to Renault SA in car manufacturing joint venture Renault Nissan Automotive India (RNAIPL), which operates a plant near Chennai. The factory, now wholly owned by Renault, would produce Nissan-branded models under contract for the Indian market and exports.
Espinosa confirmed that talks with Honda Motor Co, which collapsed last year, have been revived to explore cooperation in software and vehicle development. “The first priority was to reevaluate where we were and put a plan in place. We are restoring our cost structure, reducing our manufacturing footprint from 17 to 10 factories and implementing thousands of cost reduction ideas across our vehicle lines,” he said.
The next phase will focus on refreshing Nissan’s product range and accelerating EV innovation. Models unveiled at the show included the third-generation Leaf, which offers a range of more than 700km, and the Micra EV, developed in partnership with Renault in France. Describing Nissan’s progress as “cautious confidence,” Espinosa said the restructuring is on track and initial market feedback is positive.
“The world is complicated. Whatever brings value to customers and to Nissan, we are open to exploring it,” he added.
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