Renault India commenced its export activity with the shipment of first batch of its SUV, the Duster, from the Ennore port in Chennai. The company started its operation in the Indian market in 2010 as an independent Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and launched its first product, the Fluence, in June 2011. The export of Duster marks the company’s long term strategy for India as its main hub for overseas market.
Ammar Alvi has more.
Renault has been very aggressive in launching products in India. Since the launch of Fluence, the company has brought out five more products and is gearing up to launch more in times to come. The Duster was launched in the domestic market in July and has been a huge success, with nearly 19,000 units being sold from July to November, a demonstration of the vehicle’s attractiveness to customers in the highly competitive Indian market.
The company, which exported its first consignment of 350 Dusters to the United Kingdom and Ireland, has made its first foray into right hand drive markets across the globe. Renault’s manufacturing facility at Oragadam, near Chennai, is currently the only facility globally to produce the right-hand drive Duster, which will be sold in the domestic market as well as exported from here.
Speaking on the occasion, Marc Nassif, MD, Renault India Pvt Ltd, said, “We created a whole new segment in the Indian automotive market with the Duster launch in July this year and demonstrated Renault’s commitment to the Indian market with the introduction of a reliable, efficient and innovative vehicle. India is an important market for Renault globally, with the country set to become one of the top ten markets for the company worldwide by 2013, and to sustain this ambition an unprecedented five models have been launched in the Indian market along with setting up of 75 dealerships in less than 18 months which is the fastest ramp-up in the Indian market. We will continue to focus on meeting domestic demand in India, while also exploring new opportunities in exports and in making India the global hub for right-hand drive vehicles.”
The Dusters exported to the United Kingdom and Ireland will be available in both the 4x2 and 4x4 variants and have undergone modifications to meet individual market regulations.