Datsun has barely made its entry into India and it is already putting its game face on. The company has been heard making claims that by 2015- 2016, with its third model planned for India (code-named I2), it is looking to challenge the Alto, a product of India’s small-car manufacturing giant Maruti Suzuki. The car will reportedly be in the Rs 2-3 lakh entry-car segment.
Small cars account for a major share of the manufacturer’s segment in India. It is the second-largest segment in India and accounts for nearly 27 per cent of the passenger car sales in the country. According to what sources have told the Financial Express, the I2 will aim for sales of around 8,000-9,000 units per month in the small car segment.
Nissan Motor India vice-president (business management) Ajay Raghuvanshi confirmed, “First will be Go and Go+, then the third car is most likely another small car in the Alto segment which is huge. Everything will depend on the Datsun Go’s reach, because this will decide the fate of the brand. It will be the first touch point of the brand and all our energies are on to make it successful in India.”
Datsun is, however, currently focused on the launch of the Datsun GO in January 2014 which will be priced between Rs 3-4 lakh.
