Latest Car News in India

Nissan Datsun small car in the making, to rival Alto, Eon, threat to Nano’s existence

If ever India could find a low cost car than Tata Nano or Maruti Alto or Hyundai Eon, it would be from Nissan’s entry level car brand Datsun. As per media reports, the Japanese car maker is preparing to launch a small car priced just over Rs 2 lakh in India soon. This car will rival Maruti Alto and Hyundai Eon which are currently the entry level cars in India. In addition to this, Nissan also plans to establish a manufacturing plant for Datsun cars in India. Presently, the car maker shares a plant with the French car maker Renault. It is at this plant that Nissan cars such as Nissan Sunny and Nissan Micra while Renault cars such as Renault Fluence, Renault Pulse and Renault Koleos is produced at different levels of localisation.

Media reports also suggest that initially Nissan will be producing the cars at the Oragadam plant and will later shift the production to the exclusive facility for Datsun cars. Notably, Datsun is the mass segment car brand owned by Nissan and it produces low priced cars for the emerging economies. It was discontinued in 1981 by Nissan and it will be revived in India. And when in India a low cost car better in looks and power than Tata Nano is awaited, entry of Datsun will be none less than a key to sweeping the market. In addition to India, Nissan is reportedly planning to launch the brand in Russia and Indonesia.

Presently, there is little information regarding the name of the car that will be brought to India under the Datsun brand as well as the specification of the Datsun car that will be launched in India. However, as per sources information, the Datsun will be launched in India in two years from now. The work for producing the low cost car has already begun and it is hoped that it will be unveiled at the Auto Expo in January 2014.