Norwegian shipping company Hoegh Autoliners will transport the Nissan Pixo cars from India next month. These will be shipped from the Mundra port in Gujarat.

Maruti Suzuki will manufacture the cars for Nissan in its plant at Manesar, near Delhi. Maruti sells the same model as the A-star in India. Indications are that Nissan will ship out around 5,000 units a month to begin with. Maruti also exports the A-star to Europe, but badges it as the Alto. Maruti too uses the Mundra port for its exports.

Nissan has been shipping the Pixo even before the arrangement with Hoegh Autoliner, which has been the carmakers global partner for many years now.

Mr Per Folkesson, Head of Region, Hoegh Autoliners, said it would also ship Nissans sub-compact car when it rolls out from the Chennai plant next year. The Japanese automaker plans to export around 1,10,000 units in 2011. It has entered into a joint venture with Ashok Leyland for light commercial vehicles and it will be interesting to see if they will be part of a global business plan too.

Hoegh Autoliners, which started its India business barely a year ago, now has services to Africa, Europe, West Asia and the Far East. It has shipped around 1,000 Ashok Leyland buses to West Asia and to Africa.

Long-term plans

The company is in talks with Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Ford and Renault to ship their vehicles. Hoegh Autoliners expects business from global carmakers in India.

I dont think all these companies are only focused on the Indian market. They do have long-term plans to grow their international business from India which would see big changes a decade from now, said Mr Leif Hoegh, Chairman.

The list includes well established players such as Hyundai, Maruti, General Motors India and newcomers such as Volkswagen and Renault.