Ever since Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn made the announcement in reviving the Datsun brand back in March 2012, the world has been waiting to see how this low-cost car aimed for markets like Russia, India and Indonesia will actually look like, or how much it will actually costs. They remained tight-lipped about the matter, until a recent interview of Nissan’s Executive Vice-President for Africa, Middle East, India & Europe, Colin Dodge with Automotive News Europe.
It seems that Nissan is set to release a new line of Datsun cars into the market somewhere around late 2013, and the car it will be based on is none other from the Russian automaker Lada; in which is a part of the Nissan-Renault family.
According to Nissan’s plans, they are set to introduce the first batch of Datsun models in neighboring Indonesia next year with three models to offer. Although their main aim is to target the emerging markets, they are also putting an eye in selling it in the developed markets.
The Datsun models will be produced over at the AvtoVAZ plant in Togliatti, Russia, where the Almera sedan is also being made. Take note that although it is called the Almera, it is not the same one that we find on our streets as it is locally recognized as the Sylphy. It is said that although the Datsun will share the same basic underpinnings as the Lada like the steering, braking and fuel system, Nissan will be throwing in some touches to dress it up as a completely different car.
And as for the pricing, reports are saying that they are aiming for a starting price in the range of USD 3,000 (RM 9,100) in order to compete with the low-cost Chinese cars entering the market today.
