Saar: The Japanese carmaker signed a MoU with the government of Kerala to initially set it up in Technopark, Trivandrum.

Like many carmakers, Nissan is betting big on India. And to showcase how serious it is to become one of the key contributors to the Indian automobile industry, it has announced that its first global digital hub will be established in India. Earlier this week, the carmaker signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Kerala to set up a new global center for digital operations in India.

The said hub will be the first amongst a number of software and information technology (IT) development hubs planned in Asia, Europe and North America. Nissan says that these hubs will help in enhancing product development capabilities, security and connectivity and user experiences in a world where the use of electric, connected and autonomous vehicle technology is on the rise.

To get things going at a faster rate, Nissan will first set up the said hub in Technopark, which is a park owned by the Kerala government in Trivandrum. At a later stage, the premises will be relocated to a permanent location in the city. Once it is fully up and running, it will help the company inject digital capabilities not only in Nissan’s Indian operations but also in other markets around the globe.

At the MoU signing ceremony, Pinarayi Vijayan, chief minister for the government of Kerala, who also handles the IT portfolio, said:

“Today, this landmark announcement marks the arrival of the first global brand to Kerala. 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.”

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Peyman Kargar, chairman, Nissan’s Africa, Middle East and India region, was also present at the MoU signing event. He said:

“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.”

In India, Nissan shares its operations with its alliance partner Renault. The plant in Chennai, which has an annual production capacity of 4.8 lakh vehicles to service the domestic and export markets, produces models for the brands. The duo also has a global research and development center, which is also located in the capital city of Tamil Nadu. The Japanese carmaker is currently working on launching at least two products in its core portfolio in India – the Kicks SUV and the all-electric Leaf. It is expected that the company will launch both the said products before the end of the current fiscal year.