Nissan India Launches 2013 Student Brand Manager programme

Nissan India has launched its 2013 season of Nissan Student Brand Manager programme for the management students of the country. The company is expecting to receive 4,000 registration for the program, which will be limited to 30 students after the selection process gets over. The Japanese auto maker will make the NSBM platform a lot more rewarding this year by gifting the 'Nissan Micra' as the final prize to the national winner.

Nissan is the only auto company in India to organize such a unique and challenging programme like NSBM which helps B-School students to showcase their talent and prepares them for the corporate world. The success of NSBM's programme is evident in its Facebook following which has grown to 102,000 this year from just around 1000 in 2010, when it was first launched. The NSBM is now recognized by more than 500 B-Schools across India, including the top ones.

The program is of six months, and it commences in July 2013 and culminates in December 2013. The program has evolved qualitatively in terms of tasks allocated to the students. Each selected student is expected to perform four innovative marketing activities during the six months in their campus and community involving the Nissan brand and products.

Launching the campaign, Mr. Nitish Tipnis, Director Sales & Marketing Hover Automotive India (Nissan India’s NSC) said, "The fact that NSBM programme is entering its fourth consecutive year reflects our commitment to identify and nurture management talent. It also helps us build our brand association with young people in India, who will be tomorrow’s leaders of the corporate world. The programme exposes the students to the auto industry, competition and the Nissan brand. We are also overwhelmed by the Facebook following - it only affirms that NSBM is now an aspiration amongst the B-School students."

The 30 NSBMs will receive a grant for six months to help them conceptualize and implement ideas on Nissan brand visibility and impact. The company will also provide a Nissan Micra to students to conduct activities such as test drives and host marketing activities and align their thoughts to the product propositions.

The range of activities will vary from creating unique events of their own from setting up test-drive days at their respective colleges to creating buzz about brand Nissan among the student community. The campaign will be open to management students across the country, including the Eastern region, which has now joined the pool of B-Schools.