Engineering news
Nissan has revived its Datsun brand by launching a low cost vehicle in India called the “Datsun Go”.
The five-door, front-wheel drive hatchback has a 1.2 litre petrol engine and will go on sale early next year for 400,000 rupees, around £4,000.
Nissan also plans to launch Datsun models tailored for separate emerging markets next year in Indonesia, Russia and South Africa.
The compact car, which Nissan says has “optimal response time and agility in congested traffic”, is aimed at first-time buyers upgrading from motorcycles or used cars. According to the Society of Indian Automotive Manufacturers, compacts and minicars account for around 75% of the passenger car market in India.
Speaking at the car’s launch in New Delhi, Carlos Ghosn, president and chief executive of Nissan, said: “This is an exciting moment for many women and men here in India who – today – come one step closer to realizing the dream of purchasing a car.”
The car was designed in Japan, but technical R&D and engineering development was conducted in India using local resources and suppliers. The car will be produced at the Renault-Nissan Alliance factory at Oragadam, in Chennai.
Nissan employs more than 12,000 people in India and has its main hub in the city of Chennai. The factory at Oragadam was opened in 2010 and has an annual production capacity of 400,000 vehicles. It has full stamping, body, paint, plastic, trim and chassis shops with two test tracks. The company plans to launch 10 new models in India by 2016 under the Nissan and Datsun brands.
The Datsun, originally called the "Dat-Go" in Japan, where it was first produced in 1914, was popular in the UK during the 1970s. The cars were well-specced and keenly priced for the time, with standard features such as heated rear screen two-speed wipers, a dual band. A Datsun Cherry 100A was available for £765 in 1976. The last Datsun cars were produced in 1985.
