Nissan Motor plans to launch at least two cars in India’s most competitive auto segment – below ‘INR4 lakh’ (INR400,000 or US$7,100) – through its recently revived Datsun brand by 2014.
A couple of Datsun models will also be launched in Indonesia and Russia the two other markets where the brand initially will be sold. Nissan expects the low-cost nameplate to account for 33-45% of its overall sales in these markets by the end of fiscal 2016, the Hindustan Times reported.
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“There will be two products in each of these markets and we have already decided on them,” said Ashwani Gupta, programme director, Datsun Business unit, at Nissan Motor. “Others start with products and platforms; we will start with the consumers and hence price is intrinsic to us.”
These cars would not be built on global platforms and will be low-frills, optimised vehicles suited to the needs of the local markets. The three countries will get different models with little in common. In India, the company is looking to go below INR400,000 – a segment where Nissan cannot compete – with no bottom limit prescribed.
The cars will be made at the Renault-Nissan factory at Chennai but Gupta said there is no synergy planned with Renault, Nissan’s alliance partner.
“Datsun is a Nissan brand, as is Infiniti,” he said. “In the course of product development or production there maybe some commonalities (with Renault).”
