Datsun plan to launch three cars in India by 2015

Nissan India will unveil the first car its budget brand Datsun in India on July 15, and the company has three cars already lined up to be launched in India by 2015. All three models are expected to be unveiled during the 2014 Indian Auto Expo.  The Datsun brand name is being revived by Nissan for markets like India, Russia, Indonesia and South Africa after three decades.

The first car to surface from the Datsun brand will be an i10 competing hatchback codenamed K2 and will be placed right below the new Micra. Priced at 3-4 lakh, the car will be based on the previous generation K12 Micra platform but will be smaller yet with more spacious interiors. The car will also get an all-new exterior design.

Datsun is also planning an A-Segment hatchback priced between 2-3 lakh to compete with the Hyundai Eon and the market leading Maruti Suzuki Alto 800. Both these cars are expected to be powered by petrol engines though the engine specifications are yet to be revealed.

A B-segment MPV is also in the pipeline from Datsun and will be the first car from the brand to be powered by both petrol and diesel mills. The car is likely to get the 1.2-litre engine and the 1.5-litre K9K engine, both found on the current Nissan Micra. The company has moderate market expectations form the model and aims to sell an average of 1500 units a month.

Datsun cars will be sold and manufactured by Nissan’s existing dealership and service centre chain. The models will be manufactured at the Nissan-Renault production unit in Oragadam, Chennai and the models will be exported to the various markets from India. All Datsun models will be positioned below their corresponding Nissan models.

For the CarWale preview of the Datsun K2 click here

Image Source: AutocarIndia

Source: ICB