Renault Duster has kept Renault India in news ever since its unveiling in the Auto Expo 2012. The launch phases for the compact SUV have not yet completed and Renault has ignited another spark already. During the launch of the Duster in Kerala, the MD, Renault India Pvt. Ltd. Marc Nassif, announced that Renault is now working on a compact car which would be tagged at a price of less than Rs. 4.5 Lakh. No further details have been disclosed but maybe it is the refurbished version of the Renault Pulse that is rolling out at a cheaper price but there is no clarity yet.
After the announcement made by Nissan regarding the coming in of the 'cut-price version of Nissan Micra', this was sort of expected. With Duster still on its launching spree, the speculated launch of a small sedan during a Diwali and announcement about this under-the-cover compact car, the industry is surprised and also the competitors are getting a head's up that Renault India is finally picking up pace. In 2011 Renault sold 1500 cars which they wish to increase to 30,000 this year. As for the number of dealers in India, in 2011 there were 14 and at present the number has increased to 55 outlets in July 2012. They plan to reach 100 dealerships by the year 2013.
Along with increase in the number of dealers, Renault is also growing their investment by Rs. 4500 crore in their Chennai manufacturing unit. On the occasion of the launch in Kerala, Marc Nassif also disclosed that the Chennai facility would be the only plant where they would be manufacturing the right-hand drive Duster and it is from here that the SUV would be exported to UK. All the new developments and announcements that Renault has been making in India, it clearly shows that Renault is taking Indian market very seriously and the Indian market might very soon witness another strong international car manufacture rise to its full power just like Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen. Future is unpredictable but for now the grass looks green for Renault, whether it would be spring season or whether Renault would have to face autumn, time will tell.
