Renault India to launch 5 new cars in next two years

• Two-row and three-row models in the pipeline
• Will be produced in India

French in the lead

Renault is going big for the Indian market. It is in the process of acquiring a 100 per cent stake in the RNAIPL venture and will take the lead in the future prospects for both manufacturers in terms of producing vehicles. It recently opened a new design centre and has confirmed that it will launch five new models in India over the course of the next two years.

Playing in the next big growth segment

This list includes the generation of the Triber and Kiger but more importantly two new premium SUVs in the B+ and C-segment. It’s all but confirmed that these will be the next-generation Duster and the new Bigster (in three-row guise) respectively. These are the hottest growing segments in the Indian car market with massive potential thanks to buyers gravitating towards larger vehicles with more features and diverse powertrain options.

Both these cars will have a solid battle on their hands as they will have to bring something new to the table while fighting with cars like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, MG Astor, Honda Elevate and the Tata Curvv. Each of them has brought something unique to the table and will be good learning lessons for Renault (And Nissan) regarding what to include in their vehicles.

Getting into the EV market

Much like the rest of its rivals, the automaker has hinted at a multi-powertrain approach for India in the future. This approach will comprise pure ICE, hybrid, CNG and EV too. The Duster and Bigster will be the first recipients of the hybrid engines while there will also be an EV as a part of the equation.

While it initially looked like it would be a localised version of the Kwid (Spring) EV, the automaker has now hinted that the EV will come into a higher price bracket. Currently, an EV battle is brewing in the Rs. 17 lakh to Rs. 25 lakh with cars like the Hyundai Creta EV, MG ZS EV, Mahindra BE 6 as well as the yet-to-be-launched Maruti e Vitara and Kia Carens EV. By 2027 they will be joined by a Skoda EV, VW EV, Honda EV and possibly an EV from Renault.

Will legacy help?

If Renault has hinged its growth on the Duster and Bigster then legacy should help out massively. The Duster was the first compact SUV all the way back in 2012 and has earned itself quite a name among Indian car buyers. Tapping into this is expected to be Renault’s strategy if not its main one with regard to retailing the Duster and Bigster.