BL reported that Norwegian shipping company Hoegh Autoliners will transport the Nissan Pixo cars from India next month. These will be shipped from the Mundra port in Gujarat.

According to sourced, Maruti Suzuki will manufacture the cars for Nissan in its plant at Manesar near Delhi. Maruti sells the same model as the A-star in India. Indications are that Nissan will ship out around 5,000 units a month to begin with. Maruti also exports the A-star to Europe, but badges it as the Alto. Maruti too uses the Mundra port for its exports.

However, Nissan has been shipping the Pixo even before the arrangement with Hoegh Autoliner which has been the carmaker’s global partner for many years now.

Mr Per Folkesson head of Region, Hoegh Autoliners said it would also ship Nissan’s sub-compact car when it rolls out from the Chennai plant next year. The Japanese automaker plans to export around 110,000 units in 2011. It has entered into a VJ with Ashok Leyland for light commercial vehicles and it will be interesting to see if they will be part of a global business plan too.

Hoegh Autoliners, which started its India business barely a year ago, now has services to Africa, Europe, West Asia and the Far East. It has shipped around 1,000 Ashok Leyland buses to West Asia and to Africa.
Long term plans

Mr Leif Hoegh chairman of Hoegh Autoliners said “I don’t think all these companies are only focused on the Indian market. They do have long-term plans to grow their international business from India which would see big changes a decade from now.”

(Sourced from Business Line)