Agreement with Government of Kerala paves way for
new center to drive Nissan’s digital transformation
by Suman Gupta
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India (June 29, 2018) – Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government of Kerala to establish a new global center for digital operations in India.
The Nissan Digital Hub will be the first of a number of software and information technology development centers in Asia, Europe and North America. These will comprehensively transform Nissan’s business by placing digital technology at the heart of key operations and services.
The hubs will allow Nissan to provide best-in-class user experiences, product development capabilities, security and connectivity as the automotive industry evolves, with growing use of autonomous, connected and electric vehicle technology. The first center will initially be in Technopark – a technology park owned by the government of Kerala in Trivandrum – before moving to a permanent location in the city. Once fully operational, it will provide a range of in-house services to strengthen Nissan’s digital capabilities in India and other global markets.
“The new Digital Hub in Kerala will serve as an important engine to drive Nissan’s global digital transformation,” said Tony Thomas, corporate vice president and chief information officer at Nissan. “This hub will help us develop and maintain a talented workforce in-house, to improve the way we serve our customers around the world.”
The investment to build the new Digital Hub adds to Nissan’s commitment to India. Together with its Alliance partner Renault, Nissan already has a large manufacturing plant outside Chennai with a potential annual capacity of 480,000 vehicles for the domestic market and exports. A global Alliance R&D center, also in Chennai, employs 7,000 engineers working on projects including vehicle and technology development. Nissan’s sales company for India is based in Gurgaon.
“Today, this landmark announcement marks the arrival of the first global brand to Kerala,” said Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, chief minister for the government of Kerala, who also holds the information technology portfolio and attended the MoU signing. “The center brings a great opportunity for both Nissan and the region. It will not only provide Nissan access to a skilled and dedicated workforce but also allow Kerala to showcase its significant potential as a base for global business.”
Peyman Kargar, chairman of Nissan’s Africa, Middle East and India region, added: “The creation of Nissan’s first global Digital Hub in India reflects our commitment to this growing market and our belief in investing in India for the long term. Harnessing the skills and talents of the workforce in India is another way that Nissan is working to capture the full potential of the region.”
About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, INFINITI and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2017, the company sold 5.77 million vehicles globally, generating revenue of 11.9 trillion yen. On April 1, 2017, the company embarked on Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022, a six-year plan targeting a 30% increase in annualized revenues to 16.5 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2022, along with cumulative free cash flow of 2.5 trillion yen. As part of Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022, the company plans to extend its leadership in electric vehicles, symbolized by the world’s best-selling all-electric vehicle in history, the Nissan LEAF. Nissan’s global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, manages operations in six regions: Asia & Oceania; Africa, the Middle East & India; China; Europe; Latin America; and North America. Nissan has partnered with French manufacturer Renault since 1999 and acquired a 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors in 2016. Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi is today the world’s largest automotive partnership, with combined sales of more than 10.6 million vehicles in calendar year 2017.
