While the focus will stays on the mainstream internal combustion engine market with the B-segment SUVs, on the electrification front, Renault-Nissan alliance continue to explore the A-segment vehicles.
12 Feb 2023 | 13632 Views | By Autocar India News Desk
Having rejigged its global equity structure, Renault-Nissan alliance is set to make yet another attempt to take a crack at the mainstream Indian passenger vehicle market.
Autocar India learns that the Franco-Japanese alliance is expected to make a big announcement in Chennai tomorrow on the launch of half a ...
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Having rejigged its global equity structure, Renault-Nissan alliance is set to make yet another attempt to take a crack at the mainstream Indian passenger vehicle market.
Autocar India learns that the Franco-Japanese alliance is expected to make a big announcement in Chennai tomorrow on the launch of half a dozen new product introductions in India, starting 2024.
According to sources, the core of its new game plan is the introduction of the Alliance’s CMF-B architecture, which is expected to spawn out the new generation Duster and the a Nissan equivalent. Also part of the plan is the Bigster SUV, which will also have a Nissan derivative.
While the focus on the mainstream internal combustion engine market will stay on B-segment SUVs in India, on the electrification front, Renault-Nissan alliance will continue to explore the A-segment vehicles. Autocar India had exclusively reported in November on the possible announcement of the next phase of investment from the Renault Nissan Alliance.
The statement from Alliance in the first week of February stated that for Indian domestic market and exports, Renault and Nissan would collaborate on several new vehicle projects including new SUVs shared by both partners. A new Nissan MPV derived from the Renault Triber is also part of the plan. Additionally, as in Latin America, Nissan and Renault are also considering common A-segment electric vehicles.
Apart from all new models on the CMF-B architecture, Nissan is also likely to give the Magnite a facelift and introduce some new variants to keep it fresh.
Post the new strategic announcement, Ashwani Gupta, COO of Nissan Motor Corporation told media persons, " India which became the third largest market in the world with roughly 4.7 million vehicles is going to six million vehicles very soon, which is a 27 percent growth. Definitely after spending over 12 years together with Renault Nissan on the manufacturing, R&D and digital hubs, finally, we are going to come up with a very pragmatic line-up, focusing on SUVs. Talking about electric vehicles, we are going to maximize our assets. There are multiple projects in the pipeline and as and when we are ready, we will be sharing with you."
Till the time the locally produced models hit the road, Renault Nissan alliance will continue to explore CKD and CBU models to keep its product portfolio as fresh as possible.
In a show of commitment to the Indian market, Nissan showcased three of its most popular international SUV models last October with the new X-Traildue for a launch a little down the line. The latest versions of the Juke and Qashqai were also shown with the latter being tested on Indian roads. In fact, All models are being evaluated as low-volume CBU imports for a quick entry into the market.
On the electrification front, the Renault Kwid EV based on the CMF-A platform, which has been part of the numerous study for close to half a decade Renault, is again part of thinking process. An SUV or an MPV based on CMF-A platform too can’t be ruled out, given the significant shift towards SUVs amongst the upgraders in the market place, say sources.
On the critical role of India, speaking to media post the announcement, Luca De Meo, the global CEO of Renault said, "With bigger and more technological cars, based on Renault platform, it is the only possibility for us and Nissan to stay profitable in one of the most important markets in the world." The Ukraine war which has forced several automakers to pull out of Russia, including Renault and Nissan, has been an opportunity for India. The freeze on any further spends in Russia has meant that some of the outlay has been shifted to India.