Nissan launches Datsun Go+ at Rs 3.79 lakh

Having got off to a modest start with its Go hatchback, Datsun has launched a compact MPV at an aggressive price of Rs 3.79 lakh to Rs 4.61 lakh, seeking to catch the eye of those looking to buy a bigger car for the first time. Datsun is the entry level car brand of Nissan Motor India.

The company has sold about 12,000 Go hatchbacks in the last 10 months, which is almost half the monthly number of the Alto that No. 1 Maruti Suzuki sells. The new Go+ is aimed at offering yet another alternative to price-conscious Indian buyers, thereby creating a new segment in the Indian passenger vehicle market. “Indian people are very demanding, they always want more without an increase in price and Go+ is just that,” Guillaume Sicard, president, Nissan India Operations, told ET.

“It is an innovative product, which fulfills the Indian car buyer’s need of maximum comfort, space, fuel efficiency and active safety.”

The Go+ is available only with a petrol engine option and it is less than 4 metres in length, making it eligible for a lower excise slab. The MPV is positioned in the segment below the sub-4 metre sedan and delivers 30% more boot space.

Experts said the MPV is priced closely to the hatchback and could cannibalize sales of the small car. But managing director Arun Malhotra said the MPV will lead to incremental volumes, which will help the company increase acceptability of the Datsun brand.