Nissan announces Russian expansion with Datsun presence

Nissan wants to be big in Russia. Right now, the Nissan brand lays claim to 5.9 per cent of the Russian market, and the plan is to nearly double that to ten percent by 2016. That means moving nearly 500,000 vehicles per year, triple the 161,000 total units moved in 2011. Nissan plans to muscle up its production at its St. Petersburg plant, doubling output to 100,000 vehicles for 2014.

With upgrades to the press and plastics shops, the St. Petersburg facility will be making five different models at the same time, including the Qashqai, Teana, X-Trail and Murano. The revived Datsun brand will also figure into the St. Petersburg plans. The Datsun brand is being ramped up in markets that are growing quickly as a sort-of boutique product that's developed and produced in those locations to appeal to the emerging customer base.