Renault and Nissan, prominent players in the Indian automotive industry, are set to introduce a total of four new SUV models in the Indian market. The joint venture, Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd, has invested a substantial USD 1.8 billion in the country, highlighting their commitment to the market.
These new SUVs, consisting of both 5 and 7-seater variants, will be based on the alliance’s Common Modular Family-B segment (CMF-B) platform. This platform, already utilized in various global markets including South America, Turkey, Romania, and Morocco, has proven its reliability with over a million cars produced.
All-New Renault Duster
Design wise, the Duster us expected to come with a bold and stylish design. The front features Y shaped DRLs along with LED headlamps. The car is expected to come with 18-inch alloy wheels along with black colored body cladding to give the car a robust look.
As per reports, no diesel engine will be offered. The Duster comes with three engine options: a 1.0-litre petrol-LPG unit, a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol mild hybrid with 130 horsepower, and a 1.6-litre full hybrid with an electric motor and a battery which will allow the car to run full-electric for short periods of time. The 1.6-litre hybrid will be paired with an automatic transmission and the others will get manual option.
All-New Duster 7-seater
Along with the 5-seater Duster, Renault is also planning to introduce a 7-seater version to compete with Hyundai Alcazar, Mahindra XUV 700 & Scorpio N and Tata Safari. As per reports, this SUV will be called Bigster.
Measuring about 4.6 meters in length, this SUV will be bigger than the Duster to accommodate the additional seats. The Bigster may be offered in both 4×2 and 4×4 configurations. Engine options will be the same as the Duster.
Nissan will also launch its own versions of these SUVs with some cosmetic changes similar to how the Duster and Terrano were launched.
Jean-Dominique Senard, Chairperson of Renault Nissan Alliance, taking to ETAuto emphasized the significance of India in their global strategy,
India is not just a market, it is a vibrant ecosystem of limitless opportunities. Our future plans for the Alliance in India include the development of our line-ups for Indian markets and for export, but also the enhancement of new technologies, such as autonomous driving, connectivity, and electrification, for global markets.
Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault Group, acknowledged the changing dynamics of the Indian automotive sector. He stressed the need for innovation and understanding of customer preferences, rather than merely competing on price.
In the past, the only thing we were focusing on was trying to get the cheapest possible car to get access to mobility, but the market has changed a lot, so we have to be a little bit more creative. We do not aim to overtake Maruti Suzuki or Tata Motors, these are local players who are doing it for their domestic market like anybody would do. These are big boys here. We need to find our secret sauce.
We are here to do the right job, and by our means we want to propose to the Indian customers what they want. We need to justify our presence with a plant and a technical center with sustainable business. We are here to prove that India will play an increasingly important role in the alliance and each one of the companies. India is not an easy market for OEMs though, it is very competitive. A lot of carmakers had to bite the dust.
Despite Renault and Nissan’s relatively low market share in India, they aim to leverage their strengths, particularly through Renault Nissan Technology & Business Centre India (RNTBCI). This center of excellence, with a significant workforce, contributes to global projects, showcasing India’s importance in their global operations.
Nissan’s ambitious global plan includes launching a total of 30 new models over the next three years, with a substantial focus on electrified vehicles. In India, Nissan Motor India Pvt Ltd, established in 2010, serves both domestic and export markets, aiming for substantial growth in unit sales by FY30.
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