Nissan Bringing Back Datsun?

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

The Nikkei [sub] says that Nissan is bringing back the Datsun brand as the badge for its low-cost offerings in emerging markets. The Nikkei is talking about cars “with a price tag of around 5,000 dollars.” The Nikkei makes this announcement without quoting sources.

We are unable to get any comments on that story. Not because The Nikkei put it on the wire at 5:34 pm in the evening – at that time, most people still work in a Japanese company.

However, this is the first day of July, and from July through September, automakers in Japan will not work on Thursdays and Fridays, but over the weekend instead. We’ll see whether we can get a comment.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Old Guy Old Guy on Jul 01, 2011

    Maybe they'll bring back my 2-door 1972 510 five-speed. Once you replaced the cheap-o rim protectors with radials, that car was a ball to drive. Cost about $2,200, as I recall, but I'd be willing to as high as $5,000. The sheet metal was as thin as an oilcan and the seat belts had no retractors.

    • See 1 previous
    • Frozenman Frozenman on Jul 01, 2011

      @frozenman Now that I think about it, this is why i dumped the gas hog truck and bought a 2011 Forester (green) with a 5spd manual. I guess I've come full circle?

  • Bryce Bryce on Jul 01, 2011

    Bring back the 1600/510 Ill have one

  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
  • Lorenzo At my age, excitement is dangerous. one thing to note: the older models being displayed are more stylish than their current versions, and the old Subaru Forester looks more utilitarian than the current version. I thought the annual model change was dead.
  • Lorenzo Well, it was never an off-roader, much less a military vehicle, so let the people with too much money play make believe.
  • EBFlex The best gift would have been a huge bonfire of all the fak mustangs in inventory and shutting down the factory that makes them.Heck, nobody would even have to risk life and limb starting the fire, just park em close together and wait for the super environmentally friendly EV fire to commence.
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