Emerging markets

April 23 – Beijing – Auto China 2012, the nation’s biggest auto show, opened its doors to media on Monday, with almost 90 global debuts and over 40 Asian premieres.

Interest in the Beijing event now rivals the worlds’ top auto shows, reflecting the critical importance of the Chinese market to the car industry.

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.

Nissan is adding a third brand to its global lineup: Datsun

Earlier this week, Nissan’s CEO announced the return of the Datsun brand – synonymous with affordability and reliability - which it phased out in 1986. Datsun will provide sustainable motoring to first-time buyers in high-growth markets. Datsun represents 80 years of accumulated Japanese carmaking expertise and is an important part of Nissan's heritage. Datsun vehicles will go on sale in India, Indonesia, and Russia from 2014. Listen to what Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn had to say about the brand’s return at this recent press conference in Yokohama, Japan.

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.

He runs two Fortune 500 companies and travels more than 150,000 miles per year. But we caught up with Renault-Nissan Alliance CEO Carlos Ghosn between sessions this week at the 2012 World Economic Forum in Davos.

Mr. Ghosn stopped by the Renault-Nissan Alliance pavilion, which showcases innovative Nissan technology called LEAF-to-Home. The system uses the electric vehicle’s battery to power household appliances. In Davos, LEAF-to-Home powers a hot chocolate stand – a popular attraction for delegates and tourists on Davos’ main street.

After a meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderon to announce a $2 billion Nissan manufacturing facility in Mexico, Mr. Ghosn talked to Matt Loader of the Renault-Nissan Alliance communications team about the Alliance’s focus on zero-emission transportation and emerging markets.