This isn&#x27;t really possible to produce a sub $8k, even with an &quot;open&quot; platform.<p>The reason I know this is because the VW Minibus, which was engineered in the 40s has been sold in Brazil from 1953-2013 with very little change.  Want to know how much a brand new van designed 60 years ago would cost you?  $18,000 USD.<p>That&#x27;s a vehicle whose engineering and equipment was paid for decades ago, that received numerous exemptions to tightening safety and emission standards and could be produced in a region with cheap labor.  It was also the cheapest vehicle of its kind on the Brazilian market.<p>Super cheap cars like the Versa are really only possible because Nissan figured out how to build value without making money.  The $11k stripper model is a good for marketing (i.e., inflated fuel economy #; generates interest in the low price, even if they aren&#x27;t viable), money can be made on the back-end (financing), lowers lease residuals, it can be used to keep factories at full capacity, and helps negotiate lower prices with suppliers.