During an announcement of a second round of new investments, to follow immediately after the expansion of its São José dos Pinhais, Paraná state plant is completed, Renault-Nissan’s CEO Carlos Ghosn said the time to invest in new products and increase the Renault model range in Brazil had come.

BRL500m/US$222m will be allocated to produce two new models, though Ghosn did not detail them. One, a pick-up version of the Duster compact SUV, has already been confirmed by the Brazilian subsidiary. That it would be produced here was already the subject of speculation when the Logan pick-up truck was introduced in Europe.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

That would not be a suitable model for Brazil, though, because Peugeot has found it hard to sell the [207 hatchback-based] Hoggar pick-up. But with the Fiat Strada rival sustaining a hefty sales performance (it ranks amongst the country’s top five), Renault now feels the moment has arrived to launch its own version in Brazil.

After all, albeit for just one month (in late March), the Fiat pick-up, and this is unprecedented, led the Brazilian market thanks to the new double-cab version with passenger-side rear side door. The Duster pick-up likely will also be a double-cab but with only two doors, launched early in 2015.

Local Renault officials are reluctant to confirm the Captur compact SUV as the second model, with sales of French-made full imports starting late this year after it makes its Brazil debut at the São Paulo auto show this October. However, local production is not planned until 2016 so to admit to that this early potentially risks sales of the earlier arriving (and more expensive) France-made units.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.