Datsun unveils new hatchback, brand resurrected

Japanese automaker Datsun Monday unveiled its new hatchback 'Go', marking the revival of the Datsun brand in emerging markets like India after 32 years.

To be priced below Rs.4 lakh, the "car for the 21st century" has been engineered in India and will be launched here early 2014.

The five-door car will come with a 1.2 litre engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission and promises to seat five occupants in comfort.

Datsun is the third brand for Nissan Motor Company along with the premium Infinity brand. The brand sold 20 million cars in more than 190 countries before being phased out in early 1980s.

According to Nissan, Datsun brand is aimed at emerging markets like India, Russia, South Africa and Indonesia.

"This is a historic day for Nissan Motor Company and for our customers and partners in some of the world's fastest-growing markets," said Carlos Ghosn, Nissan Motor president and CEO, while unveiling the car.

"It's also an exciting moment for many women and men here in India who today come one step closer to realising the dream of purchasing a car," he added.

Nissan plans to gain 10 percent of the Indian car market by 2016 and the Datsun brand will play a leading role.

"We have a market share of little over 1.2 per cent in India at present... Datsun can play a significant role in this (attaining of 10 percent market share)," Ghosn said adding that the Datsun brand was part of a strategy to increase sales from emerging markets.

The Indian car market is expected to be 4 million by 2016, he added.

--Indo-Asian News service

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