Nissan to introduce low-cost Logan for Russian buyers

will produce a Russian variant of French affiliate Renault SA's no-frills Logan car, as the automakers pursue a combined 40 percent share of the fast-growing market with Russian partner AvtoVAZ.

According to KHABAR KHODRO, AvtoVAZ, 25 percent-owned by the French carmaker, will begin manufacturing Nissan's first vehicle based on the Logan design next year and may produce gasoline engines and gearboxes for all three partners as soon as 2013, Renault Russia chief Bruno Ancelin said on Tuesday.

"This will be Nissan's first vehicle based on the Logan platform," Ancelin said in an interview in Moscow.

The Renault-Nissan alliance is in talks to buy AvtoVAZ shares held by Russian Technologies Corp. and Troika Dialog, doubling its holding in the Lada maker to a controlling 50 percent stake. Carlos Ghosn, chief executive officer of Renault and Nissan, has said he expects the negotiations to conclude by the end of 2011.

Renault, Nissan and AvtoVAZ are together targeting deliveries of 1.6 million in 2016 for a combined market share of 40 percent, Ancelin said today. Renault owns a 43.4 percent stake in Nissan, which in turn holds 15 percent of Renault.