Nissan’s CEO says that the automaker may build inexpensive vehicles bearing the revived Datsun nameplate in Mexico for export primarily to South America.
“We’re launching Datsun in India and Indonesia, and we feel it’s going to be very successful,” CEO Carlos Ghosn said. “So we say, why not in South America?”
Speaking at Nissan’s new plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico, where production began last month, Ghosn indicated that Datsun-badged vehicles could eventually be built there to supply South America and potentially other markets in Latin America. Since Datsun’s resurrection has just begun, Nissan hasn’t dedicated any assembly plants to the brand.
Instead, Datsun-badged vehicles like the $6,500 Datsun Go that will launch in India in February, are being sourced from other Nissan plants elsewhere. A larger model called the Go+ was also recently announced.
Mexico is gearing up to be an even bigger producer of Nissans, however. Over the next few years, Nissan plans to be building a staggering 1 million vehicles in Mexico to primarily supply markets in North, Central and South America.
Ghosn didn’t give any hint that the Datusn nameplate might eventually return to the United States, however.
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