Nissan Motor India has started testing out the transportation of export cars to Europe. Accordingly, the first trial consignment of six cars left for Barcelona (Spain) from its Oragadam plant through the Ennore Port. The shipment after 22 days of transit time will reach Barcelona.
Commenting on the trial export, Kiminobu Tokuyama, MD & CEO of Nissan Motor India, said, “Trial transportation for exports is a very important milestone for us as we gear up for the exports to Europe from second half of 2010. The domestic production of the Micra will begin in May 2010 and we will soon start the production for exports in July 2010. India is going to be our one of the major production hubs and NMIPL will export to more than 100 countries in Europe, Middle East and Africa Exports are expected to reach 110,000 units in 2011 growing up to 180,000 units in the future.â€
The entire stretch is around 78kms with an approximate travel time of 3.5 hrs to reach the Port.
In 2008, Nissan had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ennore Port Ltd. (EPL) to export its vehicles through Ennore Port. EPL will complete development of a berth with space of 140,000m2 for vehicles by the end of June 2010 and give NMIPL priority to use the newly developed marine facilities. Nissan will thus become one of the first company to use the eastern gateway port of India as an export base.
