Nissan brought back Datsun in 2014 as a brand specialising in small, cheap models for lower income countries. Since then, Datsun has been rolled out to 14 markets, with India, Indonesia, South Africa, Russia and Kazakhstan being the main ones. Nissan’s next challenge is to launch a second generation of models, the first of which should begin in 18 months’ time.
The Go, Datsun’s oldest model, was revealed to the media in July 2013. Production of this small hatchback started on Line 2 at the Renault Nissan Alliance plant (RNAIPL) in Oragadam, near Chennai in February 2014. Sales in the Indian market followed a month later.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Nissan also builds the Go and an MPV variant, the 21cm longer Go+, at an expanded Cikampek plant in Indonesia. The Go+ was revealed to the media at the Jakarta motor show in September 2013. Production commenced in April 2014. The + is meant to signify the extra space in the third row for either passengers or luggage which allows the 5+2 MPV to accommodate two extra occupants.
Facelifted versions of the Go and Go+ went on sale in the Indonesian market during May 2018. The successors should be launched towards the end of 2021.
The EM2 project became the Datsun Cross. This small crossover is manufactured in Indonesia, Nissan announcing it to the media in Jakarta in January 2018 and local sales commenced two months later. This vehicle, which uses Renault-Nissan’s CMF-A architecture, should have a facelift in 2021 and then be replaced in 2025.
The Redi-Go is an tiny, India-specific model. Originally, the only engine of this hatchback was an 800cc petrol unit and the sole transmission a five-speed manual gearbox. The Alliance’s 1.0-litre engine became optional from July 2017.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataThe 3,430mm long redi-Go is closely related to the larger Renault Kwid (3,679mm), and is built on the same line as that small crossover. The first deliveries were in June 2016. There should be a facelift at year-end and then a successor in 2023. According to rumour, there might also be some additional derivatives, including a Datsun equivalent of the Renault Triber (code: RBC) which will be shown to the media on 19 June. There is also a chance that Datsun will gain its own version of Renault’s future HBC, a Kwid-based SUV.
Russia-only Datsuns
The first of two special models for the Russian market has been in production there since July 2014. The on-DO, a 4.3m long sedan, looks very similar to the Lada Granta.
This was the first Datsun to be manufactured at the AvtoVAZ works in Togliatti. Like the Granta, which is built in the same production complex, this small sedan is closely related to the first generation Dacia/Renault Logan.
The second Lada-based model for Russia is the mi-DO, a five-door hatchback which was added to the Datsun line-up in 2015. Both this car and the on-DO should have replacements in 2022 a few months after the arrival of the Granta successor.
Reports for many other manufacturers’ future models are grouped in the OEM product strategy summaries section of just-auto.com.
Future product program intelligence
More detail on past, current and forthcoming models can be found in PLDB, the future vehicles database which is part of QUBE.
The next brand to be featured as part of the Groupe Renault and Nissan Motor series will be Venucia. This will be followed by Infiniti, Nissan, and then finally, Mitsubishi. Recent reports look at Alpine and Renault, Dacia, Renault-Samsung and Lada.
