Renault plans to introduce five cars in India between 2011-2013, including a small car. “We will launch five cars in the next two-year period between mid 2011 to mid 2013. We will start with our Fluence sedan,” Renault India country general manager Marc Nassif told just-auto in New Delhi, confirming earlier wire service reports. Renault will later add the Koleos SUV.
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On the proposed small car, Nassif said: “We will introduce the hatchback in the most competitive B segment and it will be rolled out in 2012. We may share a Nissan platform for the small car.” He declined to comment on price but said: “It will be a hatchback, as this is the most popular segment in the Indian market and it will also bring volumes.”
The company set up a plant with partner Nissan in Chennai with capacity of up to 400,000 units a year. “We will initially manufacture about 200,000 units and this can be ramped up to 400,000 units,” Nassif said.
On the low cost small car to compete with Tata’s Nano, with partners Nissan and Bajaj, Nassif said: “Bajaj is taking some time as it is going to be a core manufacturing business for them.” He declined to comment further. But it is known the companies have agreed that Bajaj will be responsible for developing and manufacturing the car, while Renault-Nissan will manage branding and marketing.
Renault earlier introduced its Logan sedan in a joint venture with Mahindra & Mahindra but the JV ended in April this year. The French carmaker has however, allowed M&M to continue producing and selling the Logan under a contract manufacturing agreement.
