Renault Confirms Its Commitment to India

Speaking to the media at the New Delhi AutoExpo 2010, Katsumi Nakamura, Executive Vice President – Asia/Africa for Renault S.A.S., said, “Renault has always maintained that our commitment to India remains undiluted and, today, we extremely happy to confirm our commitment to India through the launch of a comprehensive line-up. This means that the investments that were earmarked for India, and frozen for a while, are now back on track, and India will be seeing a re-energised Renault very soon. The Renault-Nissan Alliance greenfield manufacturing facility in Chennai is well on track and is a key asset for our ambitions in India.”

Elaborating on Renault India’s ambitious plans, Marc Nassif, Managing Director of Renault India, said, “Our plan involves introduction of several new cars within 18-24 months and a full range in a 48-month timeframe. These cars will be produced in Chennai and we also plan to launch Fluence and Koleos models in 2011. Our range will have small to luxury cars and will be mix of Renault models and shared platform cars within the Renault-Nissan Alliance, including a crossover. We are also close to finalising our plans for a distribution network and will definitely be in a position to announce our plans in the first week of February 2010.”

Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi, unveiled Twizy Z.E. Concept yesterday at her residence in New Delhi. The two-seater Twizy is one of four full electric cars that Renault unveiled in September 2009, and is being displayed outside Europe for the first time.

Katsumi Nakamura added, “We have known the Chief Minister to be a leading supporter of green initiatives, and we were honoured to have her unveil Twizy Z.E. Concept in India. We have displayed Twizy here to demonstrate the advanced technology and level of preparedness that Renault has in electric vehicles.”

Renault’s unprecedented push into the zero-emission electric vehicle arena begins in Europe in 2011, with the launch of the first three electric cars from an initial four-model Z.E. family, designed to be affordable for everyone. The first of the electric trio will be a four-door Fluence saloon, followed by a Kangoo Van and latterly a city vehicle based on the eye-catching two-seat Twizy concept. A supermini will join the fold in early 2012.

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