Nissan begins production in China

Nissan begins production in China

BEIJING : Japan's third-largest auto maker Nissan Motor said it started production Wednesday of its new Paladin sports utility vehicle in China in a bid to win a dominant share of the fast growing market segment.

The vehicle is being manufactured at Zhengzhou Nissan, a joint venture with Zhengzhou Light Automobile Works in central China.

"Both partners strive to make Paladin become the No.1 brand of SUV in China," Nissan said.

"The production target of Paladin this year is 10,000 units."

Automakers see a promising market for SUVs in China because their all-terrain features are an advantage, given the poor state of many of the country's roads.

The Paladin is the second Nissan model produced in China at Zhengzhou Nissan. The other is the Nissan Pickup, which the company claims has a 54 percent market share.

Nissan has a 30 percent stake in Zhengzhou Nissan, which was formed 10 years ago. --AFP