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Renault Nissan to bet big on India

The Renault Nissan Automotive Pvt Ltd signed a MoU with the Tamil Nadu government for investing Rs 3,300 crore in the first phase of the investment plan..reports Asian Lite News

The French-Japanese Renault-Nissan alliance will invest $600 million (Rs 5,300 crore) over a five year period in India to roll out more models including EVs and also in the research and development (R&D), said a senior official.

The Renault Nissan Automotive Pvt Ltd signed a MoU with the Tamil Nadu government for investing Rs 3,300 crore in the first phase of the investment plan, a state government statement said.

Announcing the new investment, Nissan Motor Company Director and Chief Operating Officer, Ashwani Gupta, aid the alliance will invest $600 million in the new projects.

He said the new investments will create 2,000 jobs at Renault Nissan Technology & Business Centre at Mahindra World City near here.

Gupta also said the alliance’s India manufacturing joint venture Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd having its plant near here will roll out six new models – equally badged between Renault and Nissan – including electric vehicles (EV).

The new models include four new C-segment sport utility vehicles (SUV). Two new A-segment electric vehicles will be the first EVs for both Renault and Nissan in India.

The alliance plant rolls out Renault and Nissan badged cars out of its plant near here.

Gupta also said additional investments will be made in the model Magnite including left hand drive for export markets.

The fresh investments will increase the car plant utilisation to 80 per cent.

According to the Tamil Nadu government, the 4.8 lakh units per annum Renault Nissan Automotive plant currently rolls out about 2 lakh units per year.

The company plans to increase the production by another 2 lakhs per annum that includes launching new models necessitating the fresh investments of Rs 5,300 crore over a five year period.

According to Gupta, by 2025 the entire plant will be powered by renewable power.

The car plant is also targeted to become 100 per cent carbon neutral by 2045 by reducing energy consumption by 50 per cent and 100 per cent renewable power.

Gupta also said the two partners are realigning their shareholdings globally and it will happen here too.

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Business Economy

Renault, Nissan reshape 24-year-old alliance

Under the deal, Nissan will take a stake in Renault’s flagship electric car unit Ampere…reports Asian Lite News

Nissan and Renault have unveiled the details of a major shake-up of their often strained 24-year-old alliance, the media reported.

The announcement comes after months of negotiations between the motor industry giants. In a joint statement, the two firms said they had “rebalanced” their relationship by agreeing that Renault would cut its stake in Nissan, the BBC reported.

Under the deal, Nissan will take a stake in Renault’s flagship electric car unit Ampere.

The companies also said that they will work together on electronics and battery technology, as well as making savings from joint projects in Europe, India and Latin America.

The agreement will see Renault cutting its stake in the Japan’s Nissan from more than 43 per cent to 15 per cent, the same size as Nissan’s stake in its French counterpart.

The companies also said that Nissan will take a stake of up to 15 per cent in Renault’s new electric vehicle venture, Ampere.

Christopher Richter from investment group CLSA said the changes were necessary to keep the two-decade partnership alive, the BBC reported.

“It’s a last ditch attempt to save an alliance where the two partners don’t get along very well,” he told the BBC.

“Hopefully, by equalising their status in the alliance, they can put some of the rancour behind them, and find a limited number of activities where they can cooperate and add value to each other,” Richter added.

The move comes at a time of huge change for the motor industry as it transitions to electric vehicles and adopts new technology.

“We all know that auto firms will be amalgamated into five or six globally, especially due to the big changes occurring in AI technology,” Seijiro Takeshita from the University of Shizuoka in Japan told the BBC.

“In that context, Nissan and Renault need to find a good partner, and that’s what they are, at least nominally. They cannot and do not have the luxury of going alone in this battle,” he added.

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Tech Lite UAE News

Nissan Pathfinder launched in the Middle East

The low first gear delivers instantaneous power for greater confidence on-and off-road, while the high ninth gear keeps engine rotations as low as possible for improved fuel efficiency…reports Asian Lite News

Strengthening its model line-up and continuing to build on its SUV dominance across the region, Nissan has introduced a new 9-speed automatic transmission to the Middle East, offering customers a host of benefits and improved driving experiences. Making its debut in the recently launched all-new 2022 Nissan Pathfinder, the new high efficiency, quick-response automatic transmission delivers on customers’ needs in the region for greater fuel efficiency without compromising on power.

The new 9-speed automatic transmission offers a 30% improvement in the Pathfinder’s acceleration, building on the benefits offered by the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) in previous models. In addition to being lighter than the CVT, the 9-speed automatic transmission offers higher efficiency as a result of design upgrades, along with a highly responsive actuator for a more engaging driving experience.

With the widest gear ratio coverage in the segment, the all-new Pathfinder’s latest transmission enables highly responsive gear changes, to prioritize power or efficiency as and when needed. The low first gear delivers instantaneous power for greater confidence on-and off-road, while the high ninth gear keeps engine rotations as low as possible for improved fuel efficiency.

The new transmission features design and mechanical optimizations to maximize durability and responsiveness, offering drivers enhanced control and a smoother drive. Its modular construction furthers the driving comfort and pleasure the Pathfinder is admired for. Equally at home on city streets and off the beaten path, the all-new Pathfinder showcases its ruggedness through the introduction of paddle shifters and Hill Start Assist as standard on all grades, and Hill Descent Control on certain 4WD variants in the region.

The all-new 9-speed automatic transmission, which is controlled through an electronic gear shifter, is paired to an all-new Intelligent 4WD system that offers drivers seven unique Drive and Terrain modes to tackle all terrain. The all-new Pathfinder is an ideal family adventure vehicle not just in looks, but in modern capability as well. All grades of the 2022 Pathfinder feature a 284-horsepower 3.5-liter Direct Injection V6 with 340 Nm of torque.

Plan for first EV-solid battery

Japanese automaker Nissan has unveiled its first prototype production facility for all-solid-state battery cells, which the company aims to bring to market in coming years.

Nissan said it aims to launch an EV with all solid-state batteries developed in-house by fiscal 2028.

This prototype facility, within the Nissan Research Center in Kanagawa Prefecture, is aimed to further promote the development of all-solid-state-batteries, said the automaker.

“Nissan has been a leader in electrification technology through a wide range of R&D activities, from molecular-level battery material research to the development of safe, high-performance EVs. Our initiatives even include city development using EVs as storage batteries,” said Kunio Nakaguro, executive vice president in charge of R&D.

The carmaker plans to establish a pilot production line at its Yokohama Plant in fiscal 2024, with materials, design and manufacturing processes for prototype production on the line to be studied at the prototype production facility.

Nissan said late on Friday that all-solid-state batteries can be reduced to $75 per kWh in fiscal 2028 and to $65 per kWh thereafter, placing EVs at the same cost level as gasoline-powered vehicles.

All-solid-state batteries are expected to be a game-changing technology for accelerating the popularity of electric vehicles.

They have an energy density approximately twice that of conventional lithium-ion batteries, significantly shorter charging time due to superior charge/discharge performance, and lower cost thanks to the opportunity of using less expensive materials.

With these benefits, Nissan expects to use all-solid-state batteries in a wide range of vehicle segments, including pickup trucks, making its EVs more competitive.

“Going forward, our R&D and manufacturing divisions will continue to work together to utilize this prototype production facility and accelerate the practical application of all-solid-state batteries,” Nakaguro noted.

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