Datsun planning Alto rival

Nissan India has revealed that it is planning to launch an entry-level Datsun hatchback to rival the Maruti Suzuki Alto in 2015-16. A report by Financial Express says that the car will be positioned below the GO hatchback and is expected to be priced between Rs. 2,00,000 and Rs. 3,00,000.  Datsun will aim to sell between 8,000 and 9,000 units of the car, which is codenamed I2, every month.

However, before introducing the I2, Datsun will launch the GO and then an MPV based on it, called the GO+. Nissan has also revealed that it has no plans to launch a entry-level Datsun sedan.

In a roadshow campaign that was kicked off on December 14, Datsun has started showing the GO in cities and towns across India, including tier 1, 2 and 3 cities. The company hopes that it will help them create brand awareness among the people. Datsun’s fate depends on the success of the GO, which will be priced less than Rs. 4 lakh.

Initially, Datsun will sell its cars through Nissan dealerships, but with time, it has plans to build a separate dedicated network.