High-growth countries of Brazil, Russia, China and India represent more than 30% of the combined sales of the Renault-Nissan Alliance – up from 1% when Renault and Nissan partnered in 1999.

The key to success in these challenging markets? Modern, robust cars that are truly affordable to first-time buyers – manufactured in clever, “cost-breakthrough” ways that significantly reduce the use of scarce natural resources.

Datsun today revealed sketches giving a preview of the first new generation Datsun car, which will be unveiled at a world premiere event in New Delhi, India on July 15th, 2013.

The car will be the first product aimed for the Indian market – and the first of the future Datsun model line-up to be launched from 2014. The premiere event will not only unveil the new model, but also introduce the Datsun brand whose return to the market was announced in March 2012.

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.

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.

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.

The Alliance factory in Chennai, India, which is gearing up to start exporting the Nissan Micra to Europe later this month, has just achieved three significant milestones in a remarkably short time frame.

Last week, the Alliance confirmed the next step in its partnership with Bajaj Auto by signing an MOU to build an affordable four-wheel vehicle for India and other emerging markets.  Although this was an expected milestone in a single program, it also represents a larger more significant strategic direction for the Alliance: mobility for all.

In November 2009, the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Bajaj Auto Ltd. announced their intention to partner on the development of an innovative new four-wheel product for the Indian and other emerging markets.

Today the project took another step forward with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two partners. The signing of the MOU follows discussions between both partners to define the product, manufacturing plan and distribution agreements.

As stated when the project was confirmed in November, the design, engineering, manufacturing and supply-base expertise to create this all-new product will be executed by Bajaj with the support of the Alliance. The marketing and distribution will be led by the Alliance, with the support of Bajaj. There has been no change to this structure originally agreed between both partners.

On a recent trip to India, the media repeatedly asked me why the Alliance has chosen to work with multiple partners in that market.  Partnerships and strategic alliances are not new for the auto industry, but the way in which the Alliance has chosen to work in India seems to raise constant questions.

Let’s clear up some confusion which arose at the Geneva Motor Show about the Nissan V-Platform. The V stands for versatile and that’s exactly what it is.