Datsun, a Nissan Motor Co. brand designing vehicles for high-growth markets, today announced that it is set to return to South Africa. The first model to be introduced in South Africa will be a new passenger vehicle that will be launched by the end of 2014.

Since the Renault-Nissan Alliance began in 1999, emerging markets have become a pillar of growth for the auto industry. In 1999, Brazil, Russia, India and China(the “BRICs”) represented only 8% of the total industry volume. In 2012, these four countries represented 36% of global vehicles sales. China, which registered 600,000 car sales in 1999, became the world’s biggest car market last year with about 18 million units. Renault-Nissan sold 8.1 million vehicles in 2012, with about 30% generated from the four BRICs. The Alliance accelerates this emerging market expansion enabling each partner to gain brand awareness with millions of customers aspiring to own their first car. But each market presents unique challenges and for the Alliance, the approach differs from country to country.

A leading economist and Rector at the New Economic School in Moscow, Sergei Guriev was invited to the World Economic Forum to speak alongside Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on the opening day. A former Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, he is today on the Forum's Global Agenda Council on Europe. In this short video, he tells us his views on sustainable mobility in Russia, the prospect for electric vehicles, and the significance of the Alliance's joint venture with AvtoVAZ, maker of LADA cars.

Nissan Vice President Andy Palmer comments on the new upscale Almera sedan unveiled at the Moscow International Auto Show. Nissan’s first car designed for the Russian market goes on sale in 2013 and will be built at the Alliance Togliatti plant.
Palmer also talks about Nissan plans for its entry-level Datsun cars, which will also be produced at the Togliatti plant, and his outlook for the overall Russian market.

In a sign of just how central China has become to global automakers, Infiniti this month opened its new headquarters in Hong Kong in part to be closer to its second largest market after the U.S.

In addition to this, Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd and the City of Xiangyang recently announced that two Infiniti models will be manufactured locally at the Xiangyang plant starting in 2014.

The Infiniti brand continues to strengthen its product lineup and expand its sales network to satisfy customers in the growing Chinese luxury segment.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance factory at Oragadam, near Chennai, India – the first dedicated Alliance facility in which Nissans and Renaults are made side-by-side – is a modern and highly efficient plant producing top quality cars.

But there’s more. It’s now officially one of India’s safest and most environmentally-friendly factories, too.

That’s according to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), which has given the plant its top award for excellence in Environmental Health and Safety.

Nissan is adding a third brand to its global lineup: Datsun

Earlier this week, Nissan’s CEO announced the return of the Datsun brand – synonymous with affordability and reliability - which it phased out in 1986. Datsun will provide sustainable motoring to first-time buyers in high-growth markets. Datsun represents 80 years of accumulated Japanese carmaking expertise and is an important part of Nissan's heritage. Datsun vehicles will go on sale in India, Indonesia, and Russia from 2014. Listen to what Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn had to say about the brand’s return at this recent press conference in Yokohama, Japan.

His Majesty King Mohammed VI today inaugurated the new Renault-Nissan Alliance plant in Tangier, Morocco, at a special ceremony attended by Carlos Ghosn, Chairman of Renault and Nissan.

• The new Renault-Nissan plant in Tangier represents an investment of €1 billion.
• The new plant’s annual production capacity of 400,000 vehicles will play a part in ensuring the continued success of the Entry range across the world.
• The Tangier factory is the world's first zero carbon and zero effluent automotive plant.
• It is the southern Mediterranean basin's biggest automotive plant, with an estimated total staff of more than 6,000 by 2015.

Renault's presence in Morocco dates back more than 80 years. Today, its geographical location is situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea at the heart of the Tangier Med Port area which benefits not only from an extensive network of competitive suppliers, but also from a pool of highly qualified staff with trained to modern automotive production techniques.

India is a key pillar of the Alliance’s strategic focus on new growth markets. In March 2010, the Alliance inaugurated the Chennai plant, the first dedicated Alliance plant in the world with annual capacity of 200,000 units. The new Nissan Micra, a sub-compact model, was the first vehicle to be produced at the plant. The model is sold in India and also exported to more than 100 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Today the plant also assembles Nissan Sunny sedans alongside Renault’s Fluence, Koleos and Pulse nameplates.

This March, a second line will open at the plant boosting its capacity to 400,000 units a year and putting the Alliance on track for a 10% market share in the world’s second-most populous nation by 2016.

Watch this video for more.

He runs two Fortune 500 companies and travels more than 150,000 miles per year. But we caught up with Renault-Nissan Alliance CEO Carlos Ghosn between sessions this week at the 2012 World Economic Forum in Davos.

Mr. Ghosn stopped by the Renault-Nissan Alliance pavilion, which showcases innovative Nissan technology called LEAF-to-Home. The system uses the electric vehicle’s battery to power household appliances. In Davos, LEAF-to-Home powers a hot chocolate stand – a popular attraction for delegates and tourists on Davos’ main street.

After a meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderon to announce a $2 billion Nissan manufacturing facility in Mexico, Mr. Ghosn talked to Matt Loader of the Renault-Nissan Alliance communications team about the Alliance’s focus on zero-emission transportation and emerging markets.