Renault To Add New Models To Its India Lineup — Announce Four New Models In Next Two Years

Renault has been in the Indian market for quite a while now. The French carmaker has a number of products in its Indian lineup covering almost every segment in the market. However, over the couple of years, most of these models have faced a major decline in demand.

Currently, the only car bringing in volume sales for the brand, is the entry-level Renault Kwid. Over the last couple of years, sales of Renault India has declined massively, reducing their market share by half of what it was in FY17. The last fiscal year saw Renault sales decline by 22 percent, with just 82,000 units of passenger vehicle sales.

However, in order to revive sales in the market, Renault has announced the launch of four new vehicles within the next 15 to 18 months. Out of the four models planned, two models will be brand new while the remaining two will be facelifts versions.

The two new models planned are the RBC and the HBC. The RBC is the codename for the upcoming Renault Triber MPV. The HBC, on the other hand, is a codename for an all-new SUV, whose name is yet to be officially announced. The Renault Triber (RBC) is expected to go on sale this year, sometime in September while the Renault HBC SUV will be launched sometime in 2020.

The other two facelift models expected to enter the Indian market are the 2020 Renault Duster and the Renault Kwid facelift. Both these facelift models have been confirmed to go on sale in India sometime this year.

Venkatram Mamillapalle, Managing Director, Renault India, stated:

"As part of our mid-term plan which is 2020-22, we will be launching two all-new models--the RBC (code name for the new multi-purpose vehicle Triber) that will be launched in the September quarter, and the HBC (code for an unnamed new compact SUV) which will be rolled out in 2020. That apart, we'll have a face-lift each for the Duster and the Kwid this year itself."

Renault recently announced their plans of introducing the third-generation Duster in the Indian market. The Renault Duster was first launched in India in 2012 and was a runaway success for the brand in India. However, off-late, the company has failed to introduce any major update to the model. However, the company will bring in the third-generation international model of the Duster to the Indian market, with an expected launch in India sometime this year.

Renault recently showcased their production-spec Z-KE electric hatchback a.k.a, the Renault Kwid electric at the 2019 Shanghai Motor Show. The Renault Kwid electric is the smallest electric vehicle in the brand's portfolio. There is no official announcement from Renault to bring the Kwid electric to the Indian market — here are more details on the Renault Kwid Electric (Z-KE).

Thoughts On The Four New Renault Models Coming To India

Renault had a very good initial response in the Indian market. Most of their initial launches were a runaway success including the Duster and the Kwid. However, with no new products, Renault has failed to carry the momentum over the years, with their market share reducing to half as the consequence. Now Renault hopes to regain the lost sales in the market, with four new products scheduled over the next couple of years.

Source: ET Auto