Exports of the India-made Renault Duster have begun, with the French carmaker shipping the first 750 units of the midsize SUV to South Africa. Renault already exports the Kwid, Triber and Kiger from our market to other countries.
- Renault to export the Duster to other countries in the coming months
- Currently, Renault exports its India-made cars to around 14 countries
The Duster being shipped to South Africa is the India-spec model, which gets Duster lettering on the grille, along with different headlights, tail-lights and alloy wheels compared to the international-spec model. Interestingly, the limited-run Iconic Launch edition, which gets slightly revised exterior and interior design elements, is also part of the shipment.
India to play an increasingly strategic role: Renault Group India CEO
Renault targets GBP 2 billion in annual exports from India by 2030
While the Duster is currently being shipped only to South Africa, the carmaker has stated that “the shipment marks the beginning of Renault India’s export programme for the new Duster, with additional international markets planned in the coming months”.
At the commencement of Duster exports from the country, Stephane Deblaise, CEO of Renault Group India, said, “As Renault continues to expand its international footprint, India will play an increasingly strategic role in our future plans.” He also added that the manufacturer is “working towards our objective of generating GBP 2 billion (around Rs 25,000 crore) in annual exports from India by 2030”.
Renault has been exporting models from India since 2012, starting with the previous-generation Duster. In 2016, it started exporting the Kwid, followed by the Triber in 2019 and the Kiger in 2021. The French carmaker currently exports its India-made models to 14 countries across SAARC, the Asia Pacific, the Indian Ocean region, South Africa and East Africa.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Glenn Noronha
Dhruv Dhaka
