Japanese carmaker Nissan’s two-brand strategy with subsidiary Datsun will be important for the carmaker in India going forward. The company is currently working on a range of launches for the upcoming festival season.
Models priced below Rs 10 lakh will be sold under the Datsun brand, while models above that will be sold as Nissan cars. Thomas Kuehl, president, Nissan India Operations, said Nissan is more of an urban brand while Datsun cars are aimed more for Tier II markets.
“So, with our two brands, our strategy is to have Datsun cater to the sub-Rs 10 lakh mark, and you will see an SUV there,” Kuehl said. “Nissan will play more in the premium field and the Kicks will launch in this fiscal,” he added.
“We have a great competitive advantage with the Nissan-Datsun brands as we are able to cater to different segments. Datsun will focus on progressive mobility, catering to the first-time car buyer, and with Nissan, we want focus on models above Rs 10 lakh, so there will be SUVs and sedans that will be competitive and driven by capability and innovation,” Kuehl said.