Datsun low cost brand to use russian Lada platforms

Nissan plans to more than double sales in Russia from about 170,000 this year to about 400,000 by 2016. The Japanese automaker considers Datsun key to its expansion into emerging markets. That`s the reason Nissan will sell its revived Datsun brand in Russia, India and Indonesia starting in 2014.

Head of Datsun Vincent Cobee told Automotive News Europe that the brand will launch two models in the first year with a third arriving in 2015. The cars will be first shown toward the end of 2013.

Datsun low cost brand to use russian Lada platforms Photos

Dodge also said that low-cost Datsun cars will be based on a Lada Kalina platform. The cars will use a modular platform with shared elements such as braking and fuel systems as well as steering mechanicals. However, he stressed that Datsuns would differ visually from the Russian subcompact. "The upper body and interior will be completely different, You won't notice it as a Lada," said Dodge.

For Russia, Datsuns will be built alongside Ladas and Nissan's new Russia-only Almera sedan at AvtoVAZ's factory in Togliatti, which is about 800km (500 miles) southeast of Moscow.

Tags: datsun, lada, lada kalina, nissan, vincent dodge

Added in Nissan, Future Cars

Source: Nissan