The Datsun GO and GO+ CVT Coming to SA
The “Made-in-India Datsun GO and GO+ CVT” could soon be exported to Nepal and South Africa as well. Both models are manufactured at the Renault-Nissan production plant at Oragadam in Chennai where they started delivering two automatic variants in India on October 11.
Nissan India announced that their alliance plant, Renault Nissan Alliance India Pvt. Ltd (RNAIPL), will start exporting the Datsun GO CVT & GO+ CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) to South Africa. They confirmed an annual production capacity of 480,000 at their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.
As quoted by Managing Director and CEO of RNAIPL, Biju Balendran, “Exports form a key strategic pillar of our India operations.” In terms of the Datsun GO and GO+ models, they aren’t big sellers in India as they sold fewer than 300 units per month since April 2019. However, these cars have proven quite popular in South Africa with 678 Datsun GO sales in August 2019 compared to 205 in India.
What Does This Mean For Nissan In India?
Achieving this milestone confirms that Nissan is a major contributor to the government’s multi-sector programme, ‘Make in India’, more encouraging for local manufacturing and investment. Since they started operations in India in 2010, Nissan has exported over 880,000 cars establishing their plant as a major hub for international markets.
Biju Balendran added that “Our recently introduced Datsun GO & GO+ equipped with CVT models have been receiving positive responses from customers in India. Now, we are proud to export these versions to South Africa. Exports form a key strategic pillar of our India operations, helps grow the local economy and is a firm affirmation of Nissan’s commitment towards building India as one of its key manufacturing hubs globally.”
More Details About The New Datsun GO And GO+ CVT
In terms of performance, the new Datsun GO and GO+ models bode well with advanced technology and better control on the road. Both cars offer smoother gear shifting with an improved driving experience in the city, highway and hilly roads.
Adding even further value, it now includes a sports mode which is another first for the most affordable CVT offering within this segment. Sports mode enhances the overall driving experience with added power especially when overtaking. Unlike other automatic transmissions, there is no lag and drivers actually have better control while accelerating. They’ve also added better insulation which means the Datsun GO CVT and GO+ CVT have low engine noise in the cabin even when accelerating hard and driving fast.
In terms of interior design, the Datsun GO and GO+ are fitted with a premium instrument panel highlighted by a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It has everything you’d expect from a premium car as it comes equipped with voice recognition and Android Auto/Apple Car Play.
The Datsun GO and GO+ CVT models are unique in their segment as other vehicles are fitted with automated manual transmissions (AMTs). While it’s a step in the right direction for a smoother ride and more power, it does add to the cost of these budget models.
No confirmation yet of local prices but keep reading our blog for all the latest updates. You can also visit our website for more information or to book a test drive of your favourite Datsun.
Tags: Datsun
