With the ever-expanding Chinese and Indian manufacturers already making cheap and increasingly capable cars, it’s only a matter of time before these cheap cars trickle into Africa, where they will be bought by the newly-formed middle-class - a very cost-concious middle-class, that is.
Now, instead of buying Chinese and Indian cars, Nissan is considering offering cars under the Datsun brand, as a budget alternative to new car buyers in Africa, but one with the technical expertise and know-how of Nissan - a key selling point, we say.
Nissan announced that they were considering reviving the Datsun brand in India, Russia and Indonesia, and probably other important emerging markets. According to Toshiyuki Shiga, "The Korean manufacturers, the Indians and Chinese are more aggressive in emerging market [. . .] In order to penetrate frontier, growing markets like the African market, we need a product."
Nissan currently make around 90,000 cars per year in Africa (50,000 of which from South Africa), yet they plan on doubling the production capacity by investing some $122- (€97-) million by the year 2016.
Story via autonews.com
Nissan announced that they were considering reviving the Datsun brand in India, Russia and Indonesia, and probably other important emerging markets. According to Toshiyuki Shiga, "The Korean manufacturers, the Indians and Chinese are more aggressive in emerging market [. . .] In order to penetrate frontier, growing markets like the African market, we need a product."
Nissan currently make around 90,000 cars per year in Africa (50,000 of which from South Africa), yet they plan on doubling the production capacity by investing some $122- (€97-) million by the year 2016.
Story via autonews.com