Nissan, the Japanese automaker is trying hard to increase its market share in the Indian car market. The company is planning to launch a series of new products in the country. Nissan revived its low-cost brand- Datsun to increase its share in developing nations including India, South Africa, Indonesia and Russia. According to media reports, the company will launch the Datsun 'I2' in the Indian car market. Speaking to Reuters, Guillame Sicard, and president Nissan India said that the launch of Datsun I2 will take place within 18 months.
The Datsun 'I2' will be the smallest and most affordable Datsun product. It will be slotted below the Go hatchback. The small car will be based on the new Renault-Nissan Alliance CMF-A (Common Module Platform) platform. The I2 small car is likely to share its design cues with the Datsun Redi-Go concept. It will be locally designed and engineered in India, and would feature local components to keep costs in check.
The same CMF-A platform will also underpin the Renault's upcoming A-entry level car, codenamed XBA, which is scheduled to go on sale in India by the end of this year. The XBA will be powered by an 800cc petrol engine that is likely to develop around 50bhp of power. This engine will be paired to either a manual or an automated manual transmission (AMT). It is expected that the Datsun I2 will share its mechanics with the XBA.
The Datsun I2 will be manufactured at the Renault-Nissan Alliance's manufacturing plant in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The Renault's XBA small car will also be produced at the same plant, and both cars are expected to be exported to other developing nations.
