Dongfeng Motor, a joint venture between Japan's Nissan Motor and mainland partner Dongfeng Group, will invest 50 billion yuan (HK$60.4 billion) to almost double sales to 2.3 million units by 2015 on the mainland.
The Hubei-based company will launch about 30 vehicle models and expand the number of dealerships to 2,400 in that time, up from 1,400, said company executives in revealing their 2011-2015 business plan yesterday.
'Nissan's strong partnership with Dongfeng Motor has been the primary driver of its robust growth over the past eight years in the Chinese market,' said Carlos Ghosn, Nissan's chief executive.
'The new plan, with its investments in capacity, products and innovation, will ensure that China continues to be Nissan's largest global market.'
Success in China has become crucial for overseas carmakers since it overtook the United States in 2009 to become the world's largest vehicle market.
Vehicle sales on the mainland surged more than 30 per cent last year to a record 18.06 million units.
Ghosn said the company's forecasts for mainland market growth had proven too conservative in the past few years.