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Fiat contemplating sub-brand to compete with Dacia, Datsun

You can add Fiat to the admittedly short list of automakers considering a low-cost brand to rival Dacia. The inexpensive Eastern European brand from Renault-Nissan has performed on the balance sheet like a premium model line, and the money the alliance is taking off the table is encouraging other players to deal themselves in. Pretty soon Nissan's Datsun sub-brand will join the Dacia party, going on sale in Russia, Indonesia and India and will claim even more rubles, rupiahs and rupees for the parent company. Volkswagen recently said it will make a decision this year on a budget line for the Chinese market. With the euthanasia of Lancia and plans to move the Fiat brand upmarket, company CEO Sergio Marchionne wonders aloud to Automotive News Europe whether there could be room for a new budget brand underneath Fiat.
We're told that the initiative has been in the idea box for five years and even moved to the stage of name considerations, like Innocenti, but worries about profit kept it from realization. If such a range were to be developed, Marchionne says it couldn't be built in Italy and stay within budget, and the company is "analyzing its manufacturing capacity outside of Europe to see if a low-cost brand is viable."

Renault-Nissan has sold 200,000 EVs, claims 58 percent global share

The all-electric Renault Zoe sold 10,000 units during its first year on sale and the French automaker has sold a total of about 51,500 EVs since starting sales of its four-vehicle EV lineup in 2011. Renault's collection also includes the Twizy two-seater, the Fluence sedan and the Kangoo van – just look at the awesome concepts from 2009 in the gallery above. Throw in the fact that the Nissan Leaf has sold around 150,000 around the world and some sales of the e-NV200 delivery van, and we get to a banner headline for the Renault-Nissan Alliance: the companies have sold over 200,000 EVs since the Leaf went at sale in the end of 2010. The Alliance announced it crossed the 100,000 EV sales mark in July 2013, so we can calculate that the two companies are selling roughly 6,250 EVs a month, with the Leaf making up the bulk of that figure (the car is averaging around 3,000 units a month in the US alone). Nissan says that Leaf has cumulatively sold around 67,000 Leafs in the US, 46,500 in Japan and 31,000 in Europe. The 6,250 sales per month is a rough estimate, since the Alliance says its sales are up 20 percent this year compared to last. Still, all told, Renault-Nissan claims it has 58 percent of the global market share for EVs, and its battery-powered vehicles have driven four billion kilometers (2.48-billion miles), which has prevented 450 million kilograms of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. Who wants to bet when the 300,000 threshold will be crossed? Renault-Nissan Alliance sells its 200,000th electric vehicle Renault-Nissan EVs have driven 4 billion kilometers and enjoy 58% of zero-emission global market share Nissan LEAF remains best-selling EV ever; Renault led in Europe last month Alliance launches monthly video series introducing electric vehicle owners from around the world sharing their personal stories with their zero-emission car PARIS/YOKOHAMA (Nov. 26, 2014)-The Renault-Nissan Alliance has sold its 200,000th electric vehicle and has a leading 58% market share for zero-emission cars. Together, Renault and Nissan EVs have driven approximately 4 billion zero-emission kilometers – enough to circle the earth 100,000 times. Renault-Nissan's EVs represent 200 million liters of fuel saved – enough to fill about 80 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Alliance EVs also represent 450 million kg of CO2 that has not been emitted while driving.

Nissan touts e-NV200 as electric VIP transport

While the big auto show may be in Paris next month, right now in Hannover, Germany, commercial vehicle manufacturers are peddling their wares to fleet operators. Among them is Nissan, which is not only upgrading its NV400 full-size van with new engines and technology, but also showcasing a rather unusual show car in the form of the e-NV200 VIP Concept. Nissan has outfitted this electric NV200 demonstrator to chauffeur passengers around town in comfort and under electric propulsion. It's decked out in a two-tone metallic blue paint job and an interior upholstered in white leather contrasting with black trim and carpets, although for some reason the Japanese automaker hasn't seen fit to release any interior images. In the back you'll find a 21.5-inch DSP monitor, LED lighting and a pair of "club class" seats (again, no pictures), moved aft-wards to maximize leg room to 26 inches with an extendable footrest, while still allowing for luggage space behind. The driver can even make use of Nissan's new Smart Rear-View mirror to help get passengers as close to the red carpet as possible. NISSAN SHOWCASES EV FOR VIPs Zero emission e-NV200 is transformed for ultimate comfort city transport -introducing the e-NV200 concept for VIPs. - Luxuriously appointed 100% electric for downtown VIP passenger shuttle - Two-tone metallic blue exterior and white leather seats - Limousine-like space and 21.5-inch monitor with digital device connectivity - Smart Rear-View mirror providing clear rearward visibility in all conditions Hannover, Germany (23rd September, 2014) Fresh from launching the game-changing 100% electric Nissan e-NV200 compact van, the world's leading electric vehicle manufacturer has created a new zero emission concept for VIP transportation - the Nissan e-NV200 VIP Concept. Designers have upgraded the all-electric e-NV200 Evalia people carrier into a zero emission van perfect as shuttle transport for VIPs. The benefit of being zero emission means that the van can access all current and future clean air zones, as well as drive inside buildings, for the ultimate in discreet convenience. Behind the spectacular two-tone exterior lies a sophisticated and luxurious interior. The seats are covered in premium quality white leather with blue accents, which contrast with the predominantly black lower portion of the cabin - the trim and carpets are black with a piano black finish on the control surfaces.