Datsun Unveils Mini-Crossover in India

Nissan Motor Co.’s Datsun brand will add a locally produced mini-crossover vehicle, the Redi-Go, in India in May.

The car will ride on Datsun’s CMF-A platform and use the same powertrain found in the Renault Kwid: an 800-cc, 3-cylinder engine and 5-speed manual transmission. Datsun also plans a roomier variant, the seven-seat Go-Cross, within the next 12 months.

The company will begin taking orders for the Redi-Go in May and launch deliveries in June. Nissan will produce the car at the Renault-Nissan Alliance plant in Oragadam, which also makes vehicles under the Nissan and Renault brands.

Pricing will be announced next month, but the car is expected to retail for 249,400-349,200 rupees ($3,800-$5,300). Nissan is hoping the Redi-Go will accelerate demand for its Datsun Go lineup, whose hatchback and MPV models have not been strong sellers.

Daniele Schillaci, who heads global sales and marketing for Nissan, says Renault-Nissan aims to achieve annual sales in India of 250,000 units—slightly more than half the capacity of the Oragadam factory—and increase its market share to 5% by 2020.