Datsun will launch its first vehicle in January 2014. The brand was revived in March this year by the Japanese automaker and will build vehicles aimed specifically at low-cost markets like Indonesia, India and Russia.
Nissan has confirmed that the Datsun cars unlike the Nano will not be aimed at becoming a substitute for a motorcycle, rather they expect to complement a owner’s bike as second option. It has also said that the two cars will be built as per the demands of the local market and not on any global platform.
The high level of local production for the cars means that they will cost less, should be relatively easy to maintain (majority local parts= spares that cost very little) and will be quite fuel efficient (a priority for anyone buying a car at that price level).
The first model is expected to take on the current range of sub-Rs two lakh cars like the Alto, Alto 800, Hyundai Eon and of course the Tata Nano while the second car will be slightly more premium and is expected to be based on the V platform that currently underpins the Micra.
The Datsun brand was established in 1931 as the DAT Motor Company. Nissan took control of it in 1934 and for well over 40 years produced cars like the 510 and the Fairlady a.k.a the 240Z. However, wanting to increase its presence in the USA, Nissan closed down Datsun in 1986 and re-branded all the vehicles over a three year period.
Source: Hindustan Times
