Datsun GO production begins

The first Datsun GO rolled off the production line at the Renault Nissan Alliance plant (RNAIPL) in Oragadam, near Chennai, India. With sales starting from March, the new hatchback promises a lot more for both Datsun and Nissan. The production launch of the new Datsun GO - on the factory's 'Line 2' - was marked by a ceremony attended by many local dignitaries, including Thiru. P. Thangamani, Honorable Minister for Industries, Government of Tamil Nadu and Masanori Nakano, Honorable Consul General of Japan.

Speaking at the event, Toshiyuki Shiga, Vice-Chairman, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. said, "This is a landmark day for all of us at Nissan MotorCorporation. It represents the culmination of several years of extremely hard work to return the Datsun brand to the market".

By building the Datsun GO at the plant in Oragadam, Datsun benefits from the combined industry-leading expertise of the Renault Nissan Alliance and it is in fact the first factory anywhere in the world to start production of the new generation of Datsun models. Oragadam will be followed by local production of Datsun models in other markets such as Indonesia and Russia later this year.

"From day one, we knew that the key to the success of the Datsun brand was that the cars must be developed, engineered and manufactured locally. By working this way, we have a unique insight into customer needs which enables us to build a car that meets and even exceeds those expectations," said Vincent Cobee, Global Head of Datsun.