We’ve unearthed a fresh trademark filing for the Nissan Gravite badge, a nameplate that might just end up being used on the Japanese firm’s next Indian-built SUV…
Back in March 2024, Nissan announced plans to build a pair of new SUVs in India, with these Renault-based models all but confirmed for South Africa. Now, based on a recent trademark application, we believe one of them might just end up being called the “Nissan Gravite”.
Yes, Cars.co.za can confirm that Nissan Motor Corporation filed to trademark the “Gravite” nameplate in South Africa in May 2024. For the record, the Japanese automaker applied to reserve the very same nameplate in India back in November 2023.
Though we’re administering a healthy dose of speculation here, we’d say the Gravite badge could be a prime candidate for use on a new SUV positioned above the Magnite (currently Nissan SA’s best-selling passenger vehicle), as an eventual – more cost-effective – replacement for the locally discontinued Qashqai.
From what we understand, the Japanese firm’s new 5-seater SUV will be based on the upcoming Indian-spec Renault Duster, with both models – seen in teaser images released during the “Alliance Advance in India” conference in March – set to be produced at Renault Nissan Automotive India’s manufacturing plant in Oragadam near Chennai (which currently also builds the Magnite, Kiger and Triber).
This Indian facility is furthermore expected to produce a pair of 7-seater SUVs – one wearing a Renault badge and the other featuring a Nissan logo – which will likewise ride on a version of the Alliance’s CMF-B platform. The Renault version seems very likely to be an Indian-spec version of the upcoming Bigster.
As an aside, Renault filed to register the “Bigster” trademark in both India and South Africa, also in May 2024. Of course, there’s certainly a chance the Gravite nameplate could end up being applied to Nissan’s version of the 7-seater SUV rather than the 5-seater model. Time will tell, however, if it’s used on either.
Autocar India suggests the Duster and its Nissan equivalent will be launched in the world’s most populous nation late in 2025. As such, we’d expect the Nissan version to arrive in South Africa perhaps only the following year. Whether it will indeed be wearing this new “Nissan Gravite” badge, of course, remains to be seen…
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