French auto maker Renault has some major plans for India in the current year which includes new launches, opening showrooms and ramping up production capacity at its alliance plant at Chennai. According to reports, Renault which has launched its first 'mass-segment vehicle' Pulse, also unveiled a crossover Duster which would be launched before Diwali in the domestic market at Auto Expo.
The reports quoted Renault India Managing Director Marc Nassif as saying "India is a priority market for us. We are going ahead with our plans to launch five new products for the Indian market between the middle of 2011 and December this year. Pulse is our third product for the Indian market. Duster will come before Diwali. However, by the end of the current year, we will have five products across segments in India."
Pulse, a hatch-back, has been priced between Rs 5.77 lakh and Rs 6.25 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). "Pulse, a diesel variant, is expected to raise the bar for the premium segment compact cars with its vast array of features, focus on safety and performance which is both powerful and fuel efficient," Nassif said. It was mentioned in the reports that Duster would be manufactured in India with high local content and made available in both petrol and diesel variants, he said, adding that it is an affordable and trendy offer for all Indian drivers seeking for an exciting alternative to a traditional sedan.
According to reports, on increasing the number of showrooms, he said the company has plans to expand the tally to 100 by the end of the current year from 35 now. "We are going to open five more in the current month itself," he added. Renault along with Nissan has already started working on doubling the manufacturing capacity of their alliance plant at Chennai. Nassif said that the expansion would be completed by the end of the current year. As per the existing agreement, Renault can off-take 30 per cent of the total production of the plant.
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