[volkman10]

Nissan discontinues budget brand 'Datsun' in India.

Nissan confirmed to ET that Datsun is not being produced as part of its global transformation strategy wherein the Japanese car maker is focusing on core models and segments that benefit customers and dealers the most.

Link

[volkman10]

Nissan pulls the plug on Datsun brand in India.

India was one of the last markets where Datsun was still operational and is being put to rest for the second time in its 91-year-old history.


Nissan has finally pulled the plug on the Datsun brand in India. Back in October 2019, we had reported that Nissan was planning to phase out the Datsun brand globally, and following the discontinuation of the brand’s operations in Russia and Indonesia, Datsun's India operations have now ended after barely a nine-year stint.

Datsun had three models on sale in India – Go, Go+ and Redigo
Nissan also exported made-in-India Datsun models to South Africa
Operations in Russia and Indonesia were discontinued in 2020

The biggest contributor, however, was Datsun’s strict cost-cutting measures, which left the products without finesse. Its models were plagued by exposed welds and wiring, poor plastic quality and lack of basic equipment. Datsun tried to make up for it in terms of low running and maintenance costs, but that didn’t bode well with Indian car buyers, where buying a car holds an aspirational value, even though it is from a budget brand. The perceptions around budget cars are not the most positive in India, and the Tata Nano is another famed example in this regard. Datsun’s brand image was further hurt when months after the Go hatchback’s launch, it came under fire for its dismal performance in Global NCAP tests.

Link

[five46]

Will not bode well also for the fact that Datsun ( or Nissan) went announcing boldly in the adverts of the refreshed RediGo that they are here to stay and won't give up on India.

This might even affect the image of Rakesh Srivastava too.

However, a correct business decision, in my view.

[joeva1706]

Nissan stops production of Datsun brand in India

They were three models on sale in India – Go, Go+ and Redigo
Datsun's India operations have now ended after barely a nine-year stint

https://www.autocarindia.com/car-new...n-india-424216

[romeomidhun]

Originally Posted by joeva1706

Nissan stops production of Datsun brand in India

Not only Datsun, but Nissan itself can pack-up their bag. They have only Magnite which are selling in 4 digit numbers. Rebrand it as Renault Magnite (though they have the equivalent Kiger), and let only Renault continue its India operations.

India is a small car market, but not as cheap as Datsun expects.

See this news today: "Maruti Suzuki Alto and S-Presso select variants discontinued" (Source: https://www.carwale.com/news/maruti-...-discontinued/)

Now, even the cheapest Alto starts at 3.4L Ex-showroom Delhi! Gone are the days of Alto starting at 2.x lakhs. So, whoever is coming to India now to sell their cheaper cars, beware!

[Dry Ice]

Pitching an unknown, alien brand with questionable presence against the likes of Maruti & Hyundai was certainly not the brightest idea. I am actually surprised they managed to drag this on for 9 years!

[CoolFire]

Better late than never. Hope all auto companies take note of the dent to a group’s brand equity when a sub-brand is stopped - with current customer base left in the lurch.

Even when Datsun was launched, most sensible people had questioned the logic of a third brand when the first two had thin volumes.

Now Renault-Nissan also should be merged into a single brand if they want to compete with full focus. VW-Skoda too makes scarce sense, but their higher integration now makes it more sustainable.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

Pitching an unknown, alien brand with questionable presence against the likes of Maruti & Hyundai was certainly not the brightest idea.

But MG did establish their presence inspite of Maruti. I wouldn't add Kia, since them and Hyundai are part of a larger Hyundai Motor Group.

One commonality does stand out, both presented a value proposition and did not enter the cat fight in the budget segment in the 2010s. Both brands also established themselves much more quickly than Renault group ever did in its India stay.

Renault themselves knew this, as they tasted success from Duster that was launched closely behind Ecosport.

Even those who were brave enough to buy a Datsun, were left in a lurch on after-sales. Then why would anyone care.

As of now, rest of the group is still in ICU. Let's see how long they last. Or if there is still a trick up the sleeve.

[Dry Ice]

Originally Posted by narayans80

But MG did establish their presence inspite of Maruti. I wouldn't add Kia, since them and Hyundai are part of a larger Hyundai Motor Group.

I wouldn’t compare Datsun to MG. The latter never really focussed on the entry level segment. They started off with the most lucrative segment rather than the most fiercely fought one of entry level hatchbacks.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

The latter never really focussed on the entry level segment. They started off with the most lucrative segment rather than the most fiercely fought one of entry level hatchbacks.

That is entirely the point.

Renault group didn't bring Datsun in the 90s when Zen, Santro and Matiz were fighting it out. They brought Datsun in 2010s when the market fancied and were willing to pay for XUV500 and Ecosport.

So bringing Datsun was a suicidal decision to begin with.

Toyota could have committed the same blunder by bringing Daihatsu. I think the Etios debacle taught them enough lessons for life.

[greenhorn]

To the folks who are questioning the Logic of Datsun in the first place - It made sense then - Nissan was stuck in dispute with Hover for its Sales and distribution
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...i-p-hover.html (Nissan India wants its own dealerships, Hover says NO! EDIT: R-I-P Hover)

And creating the Datsun Brand was an easy way out. But now it has probably served its purpose. Also now what management is not chasing volumes at all all costs necessary, there is a rethink

[dhruvritzed]

Does anyone in NCR have a knowhow of Go+ stocks? I am looking for a cheap beater than if heavily discounted adds cherry to the cake, assuming spares to be available for 5-7 years atleast.

[GTO]

Re-introducing Datsun as a "cheap" brand was just one of the many DUMB ideas of erstwhile Nissan-Renault CEO, Carlos Ghosn. One of the most over-hyped bossmen around. I'm glad he's not heading any car company today. He drove Nissan into the ground with old products, a big cut in R&D spending, outdated technology, heavy discounting and cost-cutting. In the automotive industry, cost cutting can only get you so far. Idiot.

If your product screams "cheap", it won't sell in India. Just ask Mr. Tata Nano. These guys had the gall to sell a barebones car without a glovebox, ORVM stalks or even a proper audio head-unit (your phone was the HU) in India! All I can say is, good riddance from bad rubbish.

Your car should be such that your target market "aspires" to own, even if its just a Maruti Alto or Honda Activa. Anyone who saw a Datsun in the showroom lost all his aspirations right then & there .

The el-cheapo head unit:


Handbrake that was an embarrassment to use:


Glovebox lid - what's that? Ghosn said "cut costs" and they did!

[condor]

Using the Datsun brand name was a dis-service to the stature of the brand as was in it's hey day. However, only old-timers and auto enthusiasts were aware of the brand. In a way, and IMHO - glad that the brand name didnt catch on to the current generation/ general public. The cheapo models drove many a nail into the coffin of the brand name.

No, I am not going to fret about this development.

[Shreyfiesta]

Withdrawal of Datsun brand from India is not actually a shock news for me, I was expecting this since the last couple of years for the truth to be told. Discontinuation of Datsun is a part of Nissan's global transformation strategy which was announced sometime in 2019. I still can't understand what made the brand so confident to sell such cheaply put together machines in a market like ours. These models were not subjected to upgradations at the right time to make them far better cars. Indians always want value for the money spent in their car. It doesn't go well with them that because the product is cheap. Everything was decent, but cost-cutting techniques were evident inside-out and that's what which made the Go and Go+ big failures in the Indian market.