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Mint
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Mint
Renault's India encore: A ‘one-chef kitchen' strategy for a comeback
French carmaker Renault, which has made little headway in India in its 20 years here, is taking another crack at what it considers a strategically important market. The Paris-based carmaker claims to have learnt from its past mistakes. Renault India will be quick to respond to market needs, make consistent product launches and updates, and decision-making will be routed through one person, managing director Venkatram Mamillapalle said, contrasting it with the near-bureaucratic process earlier when it was married to Nissan. 'Today, we are one chef in the kitchen," he said, referring to Renault naming Stephane Deblaise as India CEO this week. He will take over from 1 September. 'Everything goes into one person or one power centre, and from there, it gets distributed and then cascades back. So, the responsibility and responsiveness will be terrifically good, which wasn't the case earlier," he said. Earlier, decision-making for Renault in India was complicated given its global alliance with Nissan, which also sells cars in India. The two companies will still collaborate in India, with Renault contract-manufacturing for Nissan, but the operations will not be as integrated as before, simplifying India-specific decision making for the French carmaker. Mamillapalle agreed that Renault missed a few tricks in India. For instance, it had launched the Duster and Kwid which turned out to be popular, but failed to maintain the momentum they generated by following up with regular updates and new launches. This was due to a lack of continuous investments in India, which he tied to global issues including financial struggles of the parent during the pandemic outbreak and its strained relationship with Nissan. 'Renault was at a sweet spot when they launched the Duster and Kwid, and later with the Triber and Kiger. But unfortunately, they were not able to sustain it with regular product updates," said Gaurav Vangaal, associate director at S&P Global Mobility, where he leads the light vehicle production forecast practice for the Indian subcontinent. In 2023, when Renault decided to revitalize its India operations after exiting China and Russia, its headquarters in Paris cleared a $600-million budget for four new cars for the country. The first of these was formally unveiled Wednesday as the refreshed edition of Triber, which is Renault's experiment at making a seven-seater car under four metres of length to benefit from India's small-car friendly tax structure. The Triber was launched to a lukewarm response in 2019, selling about 5,000 units a month in its first year against Renault's expectations of 7,000. Sales slowed to about 1,500 units a month as of 2025. Despite this, it manages to be Renault's top-seller in India, pointing to the French company's dismal performance in the country. Renault sold less than 40,000 cars in India in FY25, less than a quarter of what market leader Maruti Suzuki sells in a month. At its peak, it had sold about 135,000 units in FY17 with the success of Kwid and Duster. To remedy this, the company has planned regular product launches and investments in expanding its sales network. This will help it reach more customers across price points and geographical locations, as per Mamillapalle. On the product front, it will focus on SUVs across price points to cater to growing consumer demand for these vehicles, he said. The company did disclose the specifics of its product plans, but Autocar Professional has reported that the four planned launches include the updated Triber, Kiger and Duster as well as Bigster, which would be a seven-seater SUV based on the Duster platform. But getting customers back to its showrooms won't be an easy task for Renault. It will have to tick many boxes to win in a highly competitive market, S&P's Vangaal said. 'When Renault launched Duster, there were only a few SUVs in the market, and that too from the older generation. Today, the market is flooded with new-gen SUVs. Competition is intense and consumers are spoilt for choice," he said. Mamillapalle is unperturbed. 'I've got the biggest marketing agency, which is called product. The products will start getting customer focus, and they will build a brand as well," he said.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Will wait for EV ecosystem to mature before making entry: Renault India CEO
The company also said it is expecting to complete the acquisition of Nissan stake in the Chennai manufacturing plant 'very soon' Press Trust of India Mumbai French auto major Renault is looking for the EV ecosystem in India to mature before getting into the space. The company also said it is expecting to complete the acquisition of Nissan stake in the Chennai manufacturing plant "very soon." Earlier, Renault rolled out the all-new, seven-seater Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) Triber at a starting price of Rs 6.29 lakh (ex-showroom). "We are doing our analysis. We are looking for the whole ecosystem to mature before we put the product in place," said Venkatram Mamillapalle, Managing Director at Renault India. Currently, what Renault India is looking for is the "maturity of the market, the regulation and the ecosystem. All three together," he added. He said that the company is going to be there in multi-powertrain options, including electric, adding, "We will take an appropriate time to announce the launches, and one at a time. " "CNG and gasoline are already there. So we are talking about other energies. The endeavour to come to that level is very quick," he said. "We have everything at arm's length, whether it's hybrid ethanol or EVs, everything is available with us, so we don't need to seek technology. It's in my kitchen. It's as and when the maturity happens, the market picks up because it's very important that there is a proper ecosystem for adaptability of a customer," he said. "So, we are looking up for the market. We are waiting for the right moment," Mamillapally said. He said the launch of all-new Kiger is the beginning of the company's plans of bringing four products in the next two years. "But that is not just the end of the story again. It's a continuation of our lineup which will happen," he said.. Currently, Renault has three offerings in its India portfolio the MPV Triber, compact SUV Kiger and hatchback Kwid. In the April-June quarter of this fiscal. Renault India domestic sales declined 30 per cent at 7,729 units from 10,969 vehicles in the year-ago period. The company's market shares currently stands at less than 1 per cent. Renault has set a target of having a 5 per cent market share in the world's third-largest car market by sales volume. He said that more than the market share, the company's first priority is to utilise the plant capacity that it has, with its partner, Nissan India. Renault Group in March this year announced signing a Framework Agreement with Nissan for acquiring its 51 per cent stake in Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd (RNAIPL). On all new Triber, Mamillapalle said, "India remains a cornerstone of Renault's global strategy, driven by a strong product pipeline, expanding export operations, and a renewed focus on customer satisfaction." The new Triber is over 90 per cent localized, underscoring Renault's long-term commitment to the Indian market, he said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Renault plans to boost India production with more SUVs, exports
Renault will add more SUV's to small cars in its model lineup in India, as the French carmaker looks to boost utilization levels at its factory and rebuild its share in the world's third-largest car market, a senior executive said. With a planned investment of $600 million, Renault aims to grow domestic sales and exports from India after taking over alliance partner Nissan Motor's share in the jointly-owned plant, Venkatram Mamillapalle, Renault India's managing director, said. "We are going to go offensive on the product launches moving forward," Mamillapalle told Reuters in an interview. He said Renault would launch compact and mid-sized SUVs in India where it now sells three models - a small car Kwid, a small SUV Kiger, and a small seven-seater Triber, its top selling Indian model. While India accounts for less than 2per cent of Renault's global sales, it is one of five cost-competitive international hubs the carmaker is counting on to boost sales outside of its home market of Europe. Lack of new model launches and a lineup skewed towards small cars, a segment that is rapidly shrinking, has pushed Renault's share of the Indian car market to less than 1per cent from over 3per cent five years ago, industry data showed. On Wednesday, it launched Triber's refreshed version - its first launch in over four years, and the first of four new models it plans to bring to the market over the next two years. SUVs and three-row family cars made up about 65per cent of India's annual car sales of 4.3 million units last fiscal year. Small cars accounted for the rest, with their share shrinking from over 60per cent five years ago. The factory in southern India, now fully owned by Renault, runs at about 50per cent of its annual capacity of around 500,000 units and Mamillapalle said the carmaker counted on Indian market growth and new export markets beyond Southeast Asia and South Africa to help bring its utilisation rate to 80per cent-100per cent.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Renault Triber facelift launch tomorrow: Price expectation
The Renault Triber facelift will sport the new brand logo apart from a host of styling upgrades Check Offers Renault India is all set to bring a comprehensive update to the Triber MPV on July 23, 2025, six years since it first hit the market. The Renault Triber facelift will get an exterior and interior redesign, while we could see more features, and possibly a revision to the powertrain as well. With the launch just a day away, here's what you can expect from the Triber facelift. Renault Triber Facelift: Revised Styling Renault will retain the same body shell on the Triber facelift, but the latest teaser images reveal a comprehensive restyle to the front and rear. Expect the new Triber to look more premium with the latest revision. Styling changes are likely to include the new grille with three-dimensional diagonal slats. The rear sports smoked taillights and blacked-out trim pieces on the tailgate. Renault has confirmed the new Triber will be the first offering in India from the automaker to feature its new logo. Other changes likely include new restyled headlamps with LED DRLs, new wheel covers, and redesigned bumpers at the front and rear. The 'Triber' badge also carries a new font style and has moved to the base of the tailgate. Also Read : Renault's new logo revealed with Triber teaser The 2025 Renault Triber is expected to arrive with more features and trim changes over the current model Renault Triber Facelift: Updated Interior The new Triber facelift is expected to retain the seven-seater layout, which has made it so popular, but expect to see new fabric upholstery on the seats, along with new trim pieces across the cabin. The feature listed is expected to see a big upgrade with possibly a new touchscreen infotainment system, and a revised digital console as well. Expect to see new storage spaces and USB charging ports, keeping up with offerings in the same price point. Renault Triber Facelift: Powertrain The Triber facelift is expected to carry the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol engine shared with the Kwid. The motor produces 71 bhp and 96 Nm of peak torque, paired with a 5-speed manual and AMT unit. Customers have been asking for a turbo petrol option given the lacklustre performance of the naturally aspirated mill, but the addition would come at a significant cost. The Renault Triber is currently priced from ₹ 6.14 lakh (ex-showroom), and we expect the facelift to get an identical pricing Renault Triber Facelift: Expected Pricing Speaking of which, prices for the current Renault Triber start from ₹ 6.14 lakh for the manual, and ₹ 8.74 lakh for the AMT. All prices are ex-showroom. Expect Renault to continue with the competitive pricing, and the new range should start from ₹ 6.15 lakh (ex-showroom). The Triber remains the only three-row subcompact MPV, which has given it a significant edge and been one of the more consistent sellers for the manufacturer. The new Triber facelift will mark a new chapter for Renault India as it gears up to bring more offerings to the market by next year. Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2025, Best SUVs in India. First Published Date: 22 Jul 2025, 13:49 pm IST
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Renault in talks with JSW for India partnership as Nissan ties unwind: Report
French carmaker Renault SA is in early talks with JSW Group for a potential joint venture in India, Bloomberg reported, quoting people familiar with the matter, as the French carmaker looks to strengthen its position in one of the world's fastest-growing auto markets while restructuring ties with longtime partner Nissan Motor Co. The discussions, which remain private and may not result in a deal, are part of Renault's broader strategy to deepen its independent operations in India. The company is in the final stages of acquiring Nissan's stake in their jointly owned plant in Chennai, marking a key step in a deal announced in March to reduce cross-shareholding between the two automakers to 10% from 15%. JSW Group, led by billionaire Sajjan Jindal, is already active in the automotive space. It owns a 35% stake in MG Motor India Pvt. through a joint venture with China's SAIC Motor Corp. The conglomerate has broader interests across steel, infrastructure, energy, and electric mobility, and is reportedly seeking to expand its footprint in the electric vehicle segment through new partnerships. Renault sold approximately 38,000 vehicles in India in the financial year ending March 31, representing less than 1% of the country's passenger vehicle market. Despite the modest share, the company has maintained a presence with models like the Kwid hatchback and the Triber MPV, and exports to several African and Asia-Pacific markets from its Indian plant. The French automaker has historically preferred joint ventures for its India operations, starting with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., followed by Nissan. The ongoing talks with JSW reflect this pattern of shared ownership in a highly competitive automotive landscape. Live Events Renault has recently opened its largest global design studio outside France at its Chennai technology center. According to the Bloomberg report, the company may finalize its partnership strategy in India after naming a successor to outgoing CEO Luca de Meo, who has focused on improving profitability and expanding into emerging markets.
