Ghosn Predicts Sales Rebound in Brazil, India, Russia

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn says this year's slump in new-car demand in Brazil, India and Russia will end next year.

He concedes that current market conditions are "a little bit tough." But he tells Bloomberg News the long-term trend is inexorably up because the ratio of cars to population is so low in those countries.

Ghosn concedes that not all emerging markets will revive in 2014. He expects another lackluster year in Indonesia, for example. But he also expects the company's relaunched Datsun brand, whose $6,700-$9,000 Go hatchback will debut there next year, to account for half the company's sales in the country by 2016.

The Datsun brand also will be introduced in India, Russia and South Africa in 2014. Nissan predicts emerging markets will account for 60% of the industry's global sales volume by 2017 compared with 43% in 2012. Ghosn expects the Datsun marque to help Nissan hike its share of the worldwide auto market from 5.8% to 8% over the same period.