Nissan rejects Maruti Suzuki in favour of Mitsubishi


Nissan ditches Indian manufacturer in favour of with Mitsubishi microcars.

Following the purchase of a stake in Suzuki Motor by Volkswagen, Nissan has ended its partnership with India's Maruti Suzuki although it will retain a limited supply relationship with Suzuki in Japan.

Nissan Pixo

Nissan Pixo Image: Convettec6r

Nissan will now market Mitsubishi-built Nissan Pixo minicars globally.

Maruti Suzuki originally supplied 30,000 units of the Pixo (a rebadged Star/Alto built in India) to Nissan following a deal signed in 2006-7.

The order increased to 50,000 units, boosted by European scrappage incentive schemes, but fell to 10,000 units in 2012 when the short-term legislation came to an end.

Subdued market conditions - and a vehicle recall by Suzuki to rectify a technical problem - contributed to Nissan's decision to ditch Suzuki in favour of its partnership with Mitsubishi to build the Pixo.