The Duster is set to get an all-electric powertrain option, our sister publication Autocar UK can confirm. That the Renault Duster EV, which will be sold under the Dacia brand in European markets, “will come in time” was stated by Dacia CEO Denis Le Vot. This statement confirms our exclusive report from last April that plans for a Duster-based EV were afoot.
- Based on the same EV-specific platform as the Renault 5
- Duster EV likely to get AWD option
- Duster EV will be showcased after the 2027 Sandero EV
New Duster EV platform details
Will be underpinned by Renault’s CMF-BEV platform.
As ICE cars in the UK and European markets are scheduled to be phased out by 2035, Dacia is working at readying its all-electric line-up. At the moment, the brand’s only electric car is the Spring EV, but plans are in place to have an EV powertrain option for all models, including the Bigster.
The Duster EV will use the same EV-specific CMF-BEV platform that underpins the Renault 5 and 4 crossover. This architecture, which is essentially an EV-adapted version of the current, petrol-powered Duster’s CMF-B platform, will be the basis for all of Dacia’s upcoming electric cars.
CMF-BEV platform can house a motor on the front and rear axles
As all the current cars that use the CMF-BEV platform are front-wheel drive, there was uncertainty whether the architecture could house a second motor at the rear. However, Renault recently revealed a 4x4 concept of the 4 crossover – a preview of an imminent production version – that adds a driven rear axle to enhance the crossover’s off-roading abilities. This means that the CMF-BEV can house a second motor on the rear axle, indicating that the Duster EV is likely to have a 4x4 variant.
Renault Duster EV India launch details
Heavy localisation was planned for India-spec Duster EV.
The Duster is set to be the second Dacia model, from its current line-up, to gain an EV. The first will be the Sandero hatchback, which will get an EV option with the next-gen model, due in 2027.
The new Duster is coming to India in early 2026 and we have stated that a hybrid version will arrive within 12 months of the petrol model. We had reported last year that Renault had already begun work on a Duster EV for our market. At the time, the Renault-Nissan alliance had started engaging with home-grown cell and battery manufacturers to ensure an extremely accessible price point. Whether plans for the Duster EV for India come to fruition is yet to be seen. Stay tuned.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Glenn Noronha
Dhruv Dhaka
