Renault to introduce electric vehicles, SUV in India

Renault India, the subsidiary of French car-maker Renault has lined up two new models which include an electric vehicle under its vision to double market share by 2022, according to a top official. The automobile manufacturer currently retails ‘Kwid’, premium Sports Utility Vehicle ‘Captur’, Lodgy and its flagship ‘Duster’ in domestic and overseas markets.

Talking to reporters after unveiling the booking of its latest sub-4 metre vehicle ‘TRIBER’, company country CEO and managing director Venkatram Mamillapalle said, Renault India was eyeing to double market share by 2022 to 5 per cent which include launch of two new models-asports utility vehicle ‘HBC’ and an electric vehicle.

“The SUV (sports utility vehicle) will be on TRIBER platform and the other will be an electric vehicle. We will get into EVs. We are working on that direction. By 2022, we want to be there in EVs,” he said.  According to him, the company has a market share of around 2.4-2.5 per cent in India.

Asked whether the company would locally produce the electric vehicle in India, he said the body component will be made here and there will be some import content. On the launch of TRIBER, he said the company would make the market launch on August 28 and the bookings would commence from August 17.

Customers can book Renault TRIBER on the company’s website by paying a token amount of Rs 11,000. To a query, he said TRIBER would be the second product after the company’s successful ‘Kwid’ to carry the ‘Made in India’ manufacturing tag.

On serving the overseas market, Venkatram said they export Kwid to South Africa, Indonesia and Australian markets and TRIBER too would serve such markets.

“TRIBER will be the third flagship to Renault India after the first KWID and second Duster,” he said. TRIBER would have a localisation level of around 94 per cent and price of the vehicle would be revealed later, he said in response to a query. On total sales of Renault India in 2019, he said the company clocked sales of about 86,000 units.

This year target is 100,000 units, he said. He said TRIBER has already started to reach the company’s over 350 dealerships present across the country.

Renault India has finally launched the Duster facelift at an introductory price of Rs 7.99 lakh (ex-showroom). The new avatar of Duster is equipped with 25 brand new features and technology enhancements, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto infotainment with voice recognition and EcoGuide along with safety features such as Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Hill-Start Assist. It also gets two body colour options i.e. Caspian Blue and Mahogany Brown.

According to the company, the Duster facelift is equipped with a new tri-winged full chrome grille, dual tone body colour front bumper (with skid plate) and signature projector headlamps with LED DRLs. Also, there are 16-inch Everest diamond cut alloy wheels and Kayak roof rails. Other features include body coloured ORVM, matt­e black tailgate embellisher and waterfall LED tail lamps.

The updated Renault Duster comes with a Midnight Black interiors. The cabin is more spacious with premium blue glazed seats. The SUV gets an all-new multi-function steering wheel and it comes with ice blue graphic instrument cluster with multi-information display. Interestingly, the central console has dual tone finish.

(With inputs from PTI)