YOKOHAMA, Japan — Nissan’s revival of the Datsun won’t include developed markets, Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said Wednesday as he outlined a strategy to target the revamped brand at emerging nations.

The offerings will be tailored for each market, including price and engine size, targeting the burgeoning market of first-time car buyers in countries such as India, Indonesia and Russia, where Datsun will be introduced starting in 2014, he said. Executives gave away few details, including specifics of Datsun models they had in the works.

Additional Photos

Datsun’s new generation of cars will be affordable – like this Datsun 113, manufactured during the 1950s. The Associated Press

Corporate Vice President Vincent Cobee said the new Datsuns will be entry-level cars in each nation, aimed at “up and coming” successful people who are “optimistic about the future.” He said two models will go on sale within the first year in the three nations, and an enhanced lineup of models will be offered within three years.

Nissan Motor Co. faces intense competition from rivals, including other Japanese players such as Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., which all have their eyes on emerging markets that also include China, Mexico and Brazil. Growth has stagnated in recent years in more established markets such as Japan, the U.S. and Europe.

Datsun is making a comeback three decades after the shelving of a brand that helped define Nissan. Its name is synonymous with affordable and reliable small cars, Nissan says. Datsuns were discontinued globally starting in 1981 to unify the model lineup under the Nissan brand. Nissan also makes Infiniti luxury models.

Related Stories