Update: Renault Nissan confirms six new models for India; Rs 5,300 investment announced
Having rejigged its global equity structure, the Renault-Nissan alliance is set to make yet another attempt to crack the mainstream Indian passenger vehicle market. Autocar India learns that the Franco-Japanese alliance is expected to make a big announcement in Chennai on February 13 on the launch of half a dozen new products in India, starting 2024.
- Nissan X-Trail to launch in India soon
- A new MPV based on the Triber is part of the plan
Nissan's future products for India
According to sources, the core of its new game plan is the introduction of the Alliance’s CMF-B architecture, which is expected to spawn the new-generation Duster and its Nissan equivalent. Also part of the plan is the Bigster SUV, which, again, will have a Nissan derivative.
While the focus on the mainstream internal combustion engine market will stay on B-segment SUVs in India, on the electrification front, Renault-Nissan will continue to explore A-segment vehicles. Autocar India had exclusively reported in November on the possible announcement of the next phase of investment from Renault and Nissan.
A statement from the Alliance in the first week of February said that for the Indian domestic market and exports, Renault and Nissan would collaborate on several new vehicle projects, including new SUVs shared by both partners. A new Nissan MPV derived from the Renault Triber is also part of the plan. Additionally, as in Latin America, both manufacturers are also considering common A-segment electric vehicles.
Apart from all new models on the CMF-B architecture, Nissan is also likely to give the Magnite a facelift and introduce some new variants to keep it fresh.
Post the new strategic announcement, Ashwani Gupta, COO of Nissan Motor Corporation, said, "India, which became the third largest market in the world with roughly 4.7 million vehicles sold, is soon going to cross six million vehicles – a 27 percent growth. After spending over 12 years together on manufacturing, R&D and digital hubs, we are finally going to come up with a very pragmatic line-up focusing on SUVs. Talking about electric vehicles, we are going to maximise our assets. There are multiple projects in the pipeline, and as and when we are ready, we will be sharing them with you."
Until the locally produced models hit the road, Renault and Nissan will continue to explore CKD and CBU models to keep its product portfolio as fresh as possible.
In a show of commitment to the Indian market, Nissan showcased three of its most popular international SUVs last October, with the new X-Trail due for launch down the line. The latest versions of the Juke and Qashqai were also shown, with the latter being tested on Indian roads. In fact, all models are being evaluated as low-volume CBU imports for a quick entry into the market.
Nissan's electrification goals
On the electrification front, the Renault Kwid EV based on the CMF-A platform – that has been part of numerous studies for close to half a decade – is now being evaluated for India. An SUV or an MPV based on the CMF-A platform can’t be ruled out too, given the significant shift towards SUVs in the market place, say sources.
On the critical role of India, Luca De Meo, the global CEO of Renault said, "With bigger and more technological cars based on Renault platform, it is the only possibility for us and Nissan to stay profitable in one of the most important markets in the world."
The Ukraine war has forced several automakers, including Renault and Nissan, to pull out of Russia, and this has provided an opportunity for India. The freeze on any further spends in Russia has meant that some of the outlay has shifted to India.
Hormazd Sorabjee
Anurag Chaturvedi
