Latest news with #VenkatramMamillapalle


Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Renault waits for India's EV ecosystem to mature before entry, plans to boost SUV production
Renault is waiting for the electric vehicle supportive ecosystem to mature in India before making its entry. The French auto major is one of the few that is yet to launch any electric car in the country's passenger vehicle market despite the growing demand and competition in this space. Speaking about that, Renault India's Managing Director Venkatram Mamillapalle has said that the auto OEM is waiting for the right time to enter the Indian EV market.. Renault is aiming to boost its SUV game in the Indian market, and the new Kiger will be the first of four products coming in the next two years. Renault just launched the facelifted version of its seven-seater MPV Triber in India on July 23, at a starting price of ₹6.29 lakh (ex-showroom). Post launch, Mamillapalle said that the company is currently doing an analysis. "We are looking for the whole ecosystem to mature before we put the product in place," he said, while also adding, 'Currently, what Renault India is looking for is the maturity of the market, the regulation and the ecosystem. All three together." Also check these Cars Find more Cars UPCOMING Renault Kardian 1199 cc 1199 cc Petrol Petrol ₹ 11 Lakhs Alert Me When Launched Renault Kiger 999 cc 999 cc Multiple Multiple ₹ 6.15 Lakhs Compare View Offers UPCOMING Renault Duster 2025 1499 cc 1499 cc Petrol Petrol ₹ 10 Lakhs Alert Me When Launched UPCOMING Renault Kiger 2025 999 cc 999 cc Petrol Petrol ₹ 6 - 10 Lakhs Alert Me When Launched UPCOMING Renault Kwid EV ₹ 5 Lakhs Alert Me When Launched Renault Kwid 999 cc 999 cc Multiple Multiple ₹ 4.70 Lakhs Compare View Offers The Renault India official said that the company is going to be there in multi-powertrain options, including electric. "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," PTI quoted him saying, while further adding, '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 the adaptability of a customer." Renault aims to boost SUV production in India Renault currently sells three products in India, which include the Kiger SUV, Triber MPV and its entry-level hatchback Kwid. The automaker aims to emphasise more on the SUV segment, which has become the key revenue churner for the Indian passenger vehicle market over the last few years. Speaking about that, Mamillapalle revealed that Renault doesn't want to stay behind in the race. In the next two years, Renault India plans to launch four products in the country. The beginning of that product onslaught is going to start with the new Kiger, which is currently under development. "But that is not just the end of the story again. It's a continuation of our lineup, which will happen," he said. In an interaction with Reuters, Mamillapalle said that Renault would launch compact and mid-sized SUVs in India. "We are going to go offensive on the product launches moving forward," he said. India currently accounts for less than two per cent of Renault's global sales, but it is one of five cost-competitive international hubs the carmaker is counting on to boost sales outside of its home market of Europe. Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2025, Best SUVs in India. First Published Date:


Economic Times
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- Economic Times
Renault plans to double India parts sourcing, says MD Venkatram Mamillapalle
Reuters Venkatram Mamillapalle, MD of Renanult India Operations, poses for a photograph on the day of the launch of the new Renault Triber in Mumbai, India, July 23, 2025. Shally Seth Mohile Mumbai: Renault plans to more than double component sourcing from India to ₹400 million (about ₹4,055 crore) over the next five years, a senior executive said, as the automaker sharpens focus on making the country a key part of its global supply chain. The company currently buys ₹170 million worth of auto parts from India annually. Renault's move to accelerate component sourcing from India tracks the French automaker issuing a profit warning last week amid weaker-than-expected June sales and headwinds in Europe. It also said it would accelerate cost-cutting measures to improve margins in the second half of this calendar year. "Our ambition is to make India a strong sourcing hub, not only to meet global requirements but also to drive greater value for our Indian supplier ecosystem," Venkatram Mamillapalle, MD at Renault India, told ET on Wednesday. Scaling of component exports will help strengthen the company's supplier base and improve its global competitiveness, he said. The senior Renault India executive was speaking on the sidelines of the introduction of the new Triber on Wednesday. The updated model is likely to challenge Maruti Suzuki's Ertiga and Toyota's Rumion in the compact MPV segment besides compact SUVs. The Triber is the first of four new models Renault will be introducing over the next two years as part of its $600 million investment plan for the Indian market. The company, which has been a fringe player in the local market with less than a 1% share, is looking to reboot its Indian operations with the new model launches. Mamillapalle noted that the company is moving towards faster decision-making and tighter integration under a unified leadership structure, following a shift from the earlier multi-entity model involving Renault, Nissan, and the speculation about potential collaborations with Indian automakers, he said, "There is no reason I need a partner. We have our own design, engineering, manufacturing and network. Somebody else may need my assistance - we don't need anybody's."Bloomberg reported on July 4 that Renault is in early discussions with the JSW Group for a potential joint venture. "We are fully committed to the Indian market, and we believe the next phase of growth will be driven by scale, efficiency, and a sharper product focus," he said.


Time of India
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Renault plans to double India parts sourcing, says MD Venkatram Mamillapalle
Renault plans to more than double component sourcing from India to ₹400 million (about ₹4,055 crore) over the next five years, a senior executive said, as the automaker sharpens focus on making the country a key part of its global supply chain . The company currently buys ₹170 million worth of auto parts from India annually. Renault's move to accelerate component sourcing from India tracks the French automaker issuing a profit warning last week amid weaker-than-expected June sales and headwinds in Europe. It also said it would accelerate cost-cutting measures to improve margins in the second half of this calendar year. "Our ambition is to make India a strong sourcing hub, not only to meet global requirements but also to drive greater value for our Indian supplier ecosystem," Venkatram Mamillapalle, MD at Renault India , told ET on Wednesday. Scaling of component exports will help strengthen the company's supplier base and improve its global competitiveness, he said. The senior Renault India executive was speaking on the sidelines of the introduction of the new Triber on Wednesday. The updated model is likely to challenge Maruti Suzuki's Ertiga and Toyota 's Rumion in the compact MPV segment besides compact SUVs. The Triber is the first of four new models Renault will be introducing over the next two years as part of its $600 million investment plan for the Indian market. The company, which has been a fringe player in the local market with less than a 1% share, is looking to reboot its Indian operations with the new model launches. Mamillapalle noted that the company is moving towards faster decision-making and tighter integration under a unified leadership structure, following a shift from the earlier multi-entity model involving Renault, Nissan, and the Alliance. Dismissing speculation about potential collaborations with Indian automakers, he said, "There is no reason I need a partner. We have our own design, engineering, manufacturing and network. Somebody else may need my assistance - we don't need anybody's." Bloomberg reported on July 4 that Renault is in early discussions with the JSW Group for a potential joint venture. "We are fully committed to the Indian market, and we believe the next phase of growth will be driven by scale, efficiency, and a sharper product focus," he said.


Time of India
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Renault plans to double India parts sourcing, says MD Venkatram Mamillapalle
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Shally Seth MohileMumbai: Renault plans to more than double component sourcing from India to ₹400 million (about ₹4,055 crore) over the next five years, a senior executive said, as the automaker sharpens focus on making the country a key part of its global supply chain . The company currently buys ₹170 million worth of auto parts from India move to accelerate component sourcing from India tracks the French automaker issuing a profit warning last week amid weaker-than-expected June sales and headwinds in Europe. It also said it would accelerate cost-cutting measures to improve margins in the second half of this calendar year."Our ambition is to make India a strong sourcing hub, not only to meet global requirements but also to drive greater value for our Indian supplier ecosystem," Venkatram Mamillapalle, MD at Renault India , told ET on Wednesday. Scaling of component exports will help strengthen the company's supplier base and improve its global competitiveness, he senior Renault India executive was speaking on the sidelines of the introduction of the new Triber on Wednesday. The updated model is likely to challenge Maruti Suzuki's Ertiga and Toyota 's Rumion in the compact MPV segment besides compact Triber is the first of four new models Renault will be introducing over the next two years as part of its $600 million investment plan for the Indian market. The company, which has been a fringe player in the local market with less than a 1% share, is looking to reboot its Indian operations with the new model launches. Mamillapalle noted that the company is moving towards faster decision-making and tighter integration under a unified leadership structure, following a shift from the earlier multi-entity model involving Renault, Nissan, and the speculation about potential collaborations with Indian automakers, he said, "There is no reason I need a partner. We have our own design, engineering, manufacturing and network. Somebody else may need my assistance - we don't need anybody's."Bloomberg reported on July 4 that Renault is in early discussions with the JSW Group for a potential joint venture. "We are fully committed to the Indian market, and we believe the next phase of growth will be driven by scale, efficiency, and a sharper product focus," he said.

Mint
13 hours 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.