Today, French carmaker Renault and its affiliate Nissan performed the ground breaking ceremony for their new passenger vehicle plant in Chennai, India, that’s expected to begin operations in 2010. The facility will have an annual production capacity of 400,000 and will produce vehicles for export and the local market for both Renault and Nissan, including the all-new Nissan Micra and the Renault/Dacia Logan. The 50:50 joint venture between Renault and Nissan, represents an investment of a minimum of €780 million / U.S. $1.1 billion.