Datsun has not lived up to expectations, says Andy Palmer

Datsun launched in India in March this year with the Go hatchback. Priced from INR 3.12 lakhs for the base D variant to INR 3.69 lakhs for the top-end T variant (prices ex-showroom, New Delhi), the Go competes with the hugely popular Maruti Alto and Hyundai Eon.

The Go has fallen short of the company’s expectations.

At the time of the launch, Nissan estimated that it would sell about 5,000 units/month of the hatchback. Production was aligned accordingly to 60,000 units/annum. However, the car and the brand have fallen short of the company’s expectations. Speaking to the Economic Times, Andy Palmer, Chief Planning Officer at Nissan, said that Datsun has not “lived up to internal expectations.” The executive says that lack of dealerships have limited the Go’s sales in the country.

For the months of March, April and May combined, Nissan sold a total of 6,750 units of the Go, averaging 2,250 units/month, which is less than half of the company’s expectations. Hyundai have sold 20,273 units of the Eon, and Maruti sold 59,664 of the Alto during the same three month period.
The company aims to increase sales of the Go by adding new dealerships. Nissan India plans to have 200 dealerships by end of this fiscal year and plans to add another 100 over the course of the next two years.