Nissan to bring back the Datsun brand

TOKYO, March 3 (UPI) -- Automaker Nissan is preparing to bring back the Datsun brand, which was retired in the 1980s, reports in Japan said.

The Datsun gave Nissan a niche market. The brand was known for its small sports cars and fuel-efficient sedans. It was introduced in the 1930s and made it to the U.S. market in 1958, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

Nissan, Japan's No. 2 automaker by volume after Toyota, produces a high-end brand called Infiniti but has no low-cost or entry-level brand for first-time car buyers. A revived Datsun could fit emerging markets such as India, Indonesia and Russia.

The current plan includes bringing back Datsun as a brand by 2014 and selling some models for about $6,100, the newspaper said.