Nissan’s new low-cost Datsun cars that will soon be released in the ASEAN market will be based on Lada platforms. The first revived Datsun car will be built off the new Lada Kalina platform. The cars will use a modular platform with shared elements such as braking and fuel systems as well as steering mechanicals. However the Datsun version would differ visually from the Russian compact Lada. The upper body and interior will be completely different.
Nissan will sell its revived Datsun brand in Russia, India and Indonesia and then Malaysia starting in 2014. The Japanese automaker considers Datsun key to its expansion into emerging markets (Malaysia will be used as before/usual, as a dumping ground for 3rd world low cost cars as we have seen in the past 7-8 years.
