Last week, Japanese auto major Nissan announced it was discontinuing its Datsun brand in India. Nissan announced on April 20 that “Production of Datsun redi-GO has ceased at the Chennai plant (Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd). Sales of the model still continue (till the stock lasts).”
Datsun has had a disappointing market run, with Nissan discontinuing the brand in Russia and Indonesia in 2020.
However, the discontinuation of Datsun appeared to become a political issue. Some Congress leaders claimed Nissan itself had quit the Indian market. Former Union minister and leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday tweeted Nissan had joined “Ford, General Motors, Fiat, United Motors, Premier Automobiles and Harley Davidson” in stopping business in India.
He tweeted “One after another, these automobile majors have quit India due to 'sleaze of business' & fall in incomes. No one has failed Indian economy & embarrassed India internationally as BJP.”
Former MP Dr Udit Raj tweeted on Sunday :Japanese car co. Nissan is going to be closed in India. One after other multinational co. are quiting India.”
Netizens immediately pointed out to the leaders Nissan was still operating in India.
In its statement on the discontinuation of Datsun last week, Nissan said, “As part of Nissan's global transformation strategy, Nissan is focusing on core models and segments that bring the most benefit to customers, dealer partners and the business. In India, this includes the all-new, locally produced Nissan Magnite with over 100,000 customer orders to date.”
In its global transformation strategy, announced in 2020, Nissan had said it would exit the Datsun business in Russia and streamline operations in some markets in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region. It had also announced the stopping of manufacturing operations in Indonesia.
In July 2013, the Japanese auto major had globally relaunched Datsun with the launch of entry-level hatchback 'Datsun Go' in India, reviving the brand 32 years after it was discontinued.
Japanese outlet The Mainichi said India was the last country manufacturing Datsun cars. The Mainichi said Nissan is expected to “concentrate its resources on electrification technologies”.