Thiruvananthapuram: Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government of Kerala to establish a new global centre for digital operations in India.
The Nissan Digital Hub will be the first of a number of software and information technology development centres in Asia, Europe and North America. These will comprehensively transform the business of the company by placing digital technology at the heart of key operations and services.
Best-in-Class Experience
The hubs will allow the car makers 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 centre 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 car maker’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.”
Digital Hubs to Increase Capacity
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 centre, 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 Pinarayi Vijayan, chief minister for the government of Kerala, who also holds the information technology portfolio and attended the MoU signing. “The centre brings a great opportunity for both the company 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 company’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.”
