Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co on Friday said it would launch sports utility vehicle X-Trail by the middle of this year, marking the company's re-entry into India.
The SUV to be introduced in two variants -- Elegance and Comfort -- would be priced at about Rs 20 lakh (Rs 2 million) and brought in as completely built units from Japan, its general manager Yasuaki Hashimoto told a news conference in New Delhi.
The X-Trail, which was introduced in November 2000 in Japan, will come with diesel power and manual transmission.
Asked whether the company would have a manufacturing base in India, Hashimoto said: "This (setting up of manufacturing base) requires a lot of investment, and we have not taken any decision to this effect. We will study the market before any major financial commitment."
The company would set up four dealerships in four metros for sales and service.
"We are systematically pursuing our vision to establish lasting, profitable growth for Nissan. Step by step, we are making gains. We are delivering our commitments," he said.
At present the domestic SUV market constitutes about 10,000 units a month and growing at an impressive rate. Almost all major car companies like Maruti Udyog, Hyundai Motor Co, General Motors and Ford Motor have introduced SUVs like Grand Vitara, Terracan, Chevrolet Forester and Endeavour.
Nissan, the third biggest carmaker of Japan, had an alliance with the Hyderabased-based Allwyn for truck business in the eighties.
