Nissan Motor Co. announced Monday it will enter the minivehicle market by procuring products from minicar maker Suzuki Motor Corp. and marketing the cars under the Nissan brand.
Suzuki has been a top maker of minicars, which have engine capacities under 660cc, for 28 consecutive years.
Nissan plans to start marketing its new minicar sometime during 2002 and will initially aim to sell 3,000 cars a month though its domestic dealer network.
The two automakers said the partnership will allow Nissan to expand its customer range and Suzuki to increase its production volume.
The segment accounts for about 30 percent of domestic car sales, and Nissan approached Suzuki in August to seek a partnership, President Carlos Ghosn told a news conference.
Ghosn said Nissan has no plans to export minicars or develop minicars on its own.