Renault is looking at a fundamental reset in its strategy for India, with plans to bring new products every year. The brand believes speed of new product development and launches are critical to remain competitive in India.
“When you are in India, the first lesson you have to learn is the speed. That is why we decided to increase the speed at which we are developing our car. It is important to be present [with new models] not only every two years, but every year,” Renault brand CEO and chief growth officer Fabrice Cambolive told our sister publication Autocar Professional. The launch of the Duster marked the first major step in this accelerated strategy.
What was holding Renault back?
Renault was once seen as a potential disruptor with the Duster in 2012 and with the Kwid in 2015. The automaker’s volumes peaked in FY17, when it sold 1,35,123 units and captured nearly 4 percent market share with these two models. But Renault struggled to maintain momentum amid a lack of aggressive production expansion. The company did not have a product to compete with popular models such as the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, while the pandemic further exposed and amplified these weaknesses. In FY25, Renault’s India volumes came down to just 37,900 units, while market share contracted to less than 1 percent.
Renault eyeing 3-5 percent market share by 2030
A faster pace of product development would mark a departure from Renault’s earlier approach, which saw the brand fall behind rivals in several key segments in India.
With an increased pace of launches, Renault aims to regain its lost market share. The company is targeting a market share of 3-5 percent by the end of this decade. “Our objective now is to gain traction in terms of renewals. I would say that between 3 percent and 5 percent of the market should be a good target for us. I would say this is not a target in itself but rather a result of doing our job well,” Cambolive said.
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