French carmaker Renault is looking at shoring up volumes in the local market with the introduction of multiple new models over the next few years.
The company, which launched SUV Duster Tuesday with prices starting at Rs 10.49 lakh (ex-showroom), said it is looking at regaining lost market share as soon as possible. “Overall, we want to come back as soon as possible to where we were (in terms of market share and volumes), not such a long time ago," Renault India Vice President (Sales & Marketing) Francisco Hidalgo said.
The Duster is the fourth model in the company’s portfolio on sale in the Indian market. The Duster will take on the likes of Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, and Tata Sierra in one of the most competitive segments in the domestic industry.
At its peak in 2016, Renault had a market share of around 4% in the local passenger vehicle market. Renault India stopped production of Duster at its Sriperumbudur plant in 2022, ten years after rolling out the first unit in July 2012.
Hidalgo added, “Duster is just the first product of a big lineup. We have a clear destination point. I don't really care if it takes two more months, more or less, to get there. What is important is the trend and the direction. And we are very clear about that.”
Hidalgo said the company’s priority is to strengthen sales in the domestic market, post which it will also look at exporting the new Duster from India.
Renault also plans to introduce a strong hybrid version of the Duster around the festive season this year. Hidalgo informed that in major metro markets, nearly 40% of customers have opted for the hybrid during pre-bookings. The planned hybrid capacity for 2026 is already fully allocated, with bookings set to reopen ahead of deliveries around Diwali, he said.
Separately, Hidalgo said the company has not witnessed any disruptions in supply chain due to the West Asia crisis. Renault’s existing vehicles on sale in the country have localisation levels over 90% localisation, consequently it has not seen any impact so far on production operations.
The company, which launched SUV Duster Tuesday with prices starting at Rs 10.49 lakh (ex-showroom), said it is looking at regaining lost market share as soon as possible. “Overall, we want to come back as soon as possible to where we were (in terms of market share and volumes), not such a long time ago," Renault India Vice President (Sales & Marketing) Francisco Hidalgo said.
The Duster is the fourth model in the company’s portfolio on sale in the Indian market. The Duster will take on the likes of Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, and Tata Sierra in one of the most competitive segments in the domestic industry.
At its peak in 2016, Renault had a market share of around 4% in the local passenger vehicle market. Renault India stopped production of Duster at its Sriperumbudur plant in 2022, ten years after rolling out the first unit in July 2012.
Hidalgo added, “Duster is just the first product of a big lineup. We have a clear destination point. I don't really care if it takes two more months, more or less, to get there. What is important is the trend and the direction. And we are very clear about that.”
Hidalgo said the company’s priority is to strengthen sales in the domestic market, post which it will also look at exporting the new Duster from India.
Renault also plans to introduce a strong hybrid version of the Duster around the festive season this year. Hidalgo informed that in major metro markets, nearly 40% of customers have opted for the hybrid during pre-bookings. The planned hybrid capacity for 2026 is already fully allocated, with bookings set to reopen ahead of deliveries around Diwali, he said.
Separately, Hidalgo said the company has not witnessed any disruptions in supply chain due to the West Asia crisis. Renault’s existing vehicles on sale in the country have localisation levels over 90% localisation, consequently it has not seen any impact so far on production operations.