Report: Nissan Reviving Datsun Brand
Will a new sub-brand be sold in emerging markets?
Nissan may be reviving its former nameplate, Datsun, in 2014, if a report by the Japanese news agency Nikkei is to be believed.The report, which did not cite sources, said that Nissan wants to create a lower-cost sub-brand to better compete in countries such as Russia, India and Indonesia. The cars would cost roughly twice that of the Indian-built Tata Nano, the world's cheapest production car, or about $6,100 at today's exchange rates.
There are even plans, according to Nikkei, of a 0.8-liter engine destined for Russia. Warranties would be shorter than on regular Nissan cars, according to the report.
When reached today, Nissan had no comment on the rumors.
Datsun was Nissan's original name prior to the mid-1980s, as anyone older than 25 knows well. (Pictured above is a 1972 Datsun 510 sedan; the 240Z is the brand's most legendary offering.) During the name switch, many Nissan models carried both Nissan and Datsun badges on the back decklids.
For more rumor and more explanation on sub-brands sold by other automakers, see the original report and this take from Paul Eisenstein at The Detroit Bureau.
[Source: Nikkei via Autoblog]
@ricers_stink:
One of the reasons that American products aren't received well in Japan is that many are not designed for that market. Most American vehicles, for example, are too large for Japanese tastes and even more so for their roads. After all, Japan is a relatively small, island country. So there's not a huge demand for vast SUVs with aircraft-hangar-sized cargo holds, for example. And, let's remember that gasoline is currently $6.59 a gallon in Tokyo--and that's for regular!
Besides that, I'm not sure that I follow what your contentions have to do with the content of the article. Could I trouble you to explain the correlation?
@ ricers_stink,
Japan has been one of our allies for decades whereas Al Qaeda is not. Alot can change in nearly 67 years ( if you knew your history you wouldn't have exclaimed 65 years). If you feel so strongly against Japan, I suggest getting rid of all of your Japanese electronics...to include your cell phone, computer and home entertainment system. By not doing so you're being hypocritical of "supporting your country".
I also noticed you skipped right over that argument when you re-directed with your Al Qaeda comment. What will your next targets be? The USSR, Germany, Vietnam?
Maybe you should hate on GM and Chrysler for what they've done to generations of taxpayers to come. I don't see you going down that route though.
Just sayin'.
Know anything about trade tariffs? How Japan puts huge tariffs on North American goods? Ever been to Japan? How many American cars do you see there? Ever been in a Toyota factory? How many higher-ups are Americans?
Just because you are a Toyota used car salesman doesn't make you an expert in the automotive industry.
Aw....I'm sorry all you Toyota sheep are so uninformed. :( Didn't know any of this, did you? Ignorance is bliss...................
Most "adults" are mature enough not to hold grudges forever. What if the Japanese, Germans, Koreans, and more, held grudges against us and didn't buy our products? Didn't think of that did ya? I am not condoning terrorism but to hate the Japananese makes you a bigot and a racist doesn't it?
I thank God that I have reached a higher level of maturity and humanity than the backwards fella like the one below this post. People that think like him are the reason that there is so much hatred and racism in the world. We should gather all of the people in the world that hate others that aren't like them, including this guy below, arm them heavily with grenades, rockets and guns and drop them all on one big island to "sort things out".
This also wouldn't allow them to breed and would be a big step toward a happier world!
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