While Datsun’s parent company Nissan is struggling to reach its sales target in India, Datsun has itself been plagued by a few of its own woes. Not getting a good head start is the biggest one! Nissan India aims to reach a 10 per cent market share by 2019, they are currently at a dismal 2.2 per cent low!
The Datsun Go was launched amidst much fanfare after a long promotional and marketing strategy. In fact Nissan even ended its tie-up with distribution partners Hover Automotive to take matters in their own hands.
In an interview with ETAuto.com, Nissan’s Chief Planning Officer, Andy Palmer, admits that Datsun (Go) has not done ‘as per expectations’ till now.
The car is aimed at the entry level hatchback segment, rivaling the Maruti Alto and Hyundai Eon. The single biggest advantage which it was supposed to have was the use of the largest displacement engine in the segment: The 1.2L petrol from the Micra, apart from interior space. During the media drive of Datsun, officials reluctantly admitted they are targeting at least 5,000 units per month, however, the final sales of the car are nowhere near that.
Datsun Go clocks a little more than 2,000 units per month, while its biggest rival, Maruti’s Alto clocks over 20,000 units per month. Datsun right now is in an active collaboration with Nissan, with its expenses being a part of the Nissan India’s papers. The management aims to make Datsun a separate entity under the Nissan brand name, where it would be maintaining a separate balance records, much on the lines of the Infiniti in America.
Go is a fantastic offering by all standards in the entry level hatchback segment. As Mr Andy Balmer says, its the lack of dealerships that is hindering its sales. According to us, apart from that Datsun is slightly priced higher than what it could have been. Plus, it doesn’t offer a power steering even on the mid variant which costs about 3.5 Lakhs on the ex-showroom Delhi price. Though we have not driven the lesser variants, but driving such a big car with no power steering must be something which we would like to avoid.
Nonetheless, its too early to say anything, if we are to speak. The upcoming 5+2 seater Go+ MPV is the next product coming from them and if they can offer proper features and at correct prices, we are really up for something very interesting.
