Nissan Motor India has announced that the first batch of 1,300 Nissan Tekton models destined for South Africa, Bhutan and Nepal has been shipped.
According to the company, the initial shipments to the three markets represent the first phase of the new Renault Duster-derived SUV’s overseas rollout, following a successful launch in its home market.
Autocar India reports that Nissan India sold 3,246 vehicles in its domestic market in August 2026, up 147% year-on-year (YoY) from the 1,384 units the carmaker sold in August last year.
This is a stark contrast to Nissan’s sales performance in the South African market last month, with the local arm selling only 786 units.
This increase in its home-market performance was reportedly driven by the rollout of the Tekton alongside sustained volumes for its existing SUV portfolio.
Commenting on the Tekton’s sales performance, Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said the response to the all-new SUV has been encouraging and has already contributed to the company’s improved sales performance.
“At the same time, our export business continues to demonstrate the global competitiveness of vehicles manufactured in India and underlines the strategic importance of our Indian operations within Nissan’s global network,” he said.
“As we expand the Tekton’s presence across domestic and international markets, we remain focused on delivering innovative products, a differentiated customer experience and sustainable growth for the business.”
During the model’s unveiling in July, Nissan’s Chief Performance Officer, Guillaume Cartier, explained that the Patrol-inspired crossover will eventually be exported to 50 global markets.
“As we continue to strengthen our SUV-led portfolio and sharpen our market focus, the world premiere of the all-new Nissan Tekton reflects our ambition to leverage strategic partnerships to expand our market coverage,” he said.
“Tekton is a clear expression of how Nissan is transforming with purpose – towards a more competitive, diverse portfolio.”
What to expect
Nissan explained that the crossover SUV has been developed alongside continuous consumer insight, with every aspect of the vehicle, from its design and technology to its comfort and practicality, shaped around real-world feedback.
The Tekton’s design was heavily inspired by the much larger Nissan Patrol, and built on the shared Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance CMF-B platform found in the India-built Duster, which arrived in South Africa recently.
Confirmed standard features include a premium spacious cabin, panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, generous storage and a large luggage compartment.
Alongside these, the Tekton features Google-powered connectivity, including Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play, alongside a digital cockpit experience and connected services designed to make driving more intuitive.
The all-new crossover is also fitted with several active and passive safety features and driver assistance technologies.
These include a reinforced structure, six airbags, Adaptive Cruise Control, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist and Blind Spot Warning.
Nissan will give local buyers a choice between two powertrains, including 1.0-litre or 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol options.
These two motors can also be found in the India-built Renault Duster range.
The 1.0-litre turbocharged block is capable of producing 74kW and 166Nm and is mated to a six-speed manual transmission.
The more powerful 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol motor is paired with either the same six-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed DCT with an e-shifter, producing up to 120kW and 280Nm.
Performance and fuel consumption figures for the two powertrain configurations are not yet known, but will likely be similar to the Renault sibling’s sub-6.0l/100km numbers.
However, this will only be confirmed closer to the vehicle’s official launch date, which also remains under wraps for now.
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