India will be the launch market for the small car.
Renault's entry-level small car, codenamed 'XBA' is reported to launch in India in May this year, according to an Economic Times report. The XBA will make its world premiere in India, followed by introductions in other markets in South Africa, South America and Asia.
The publication says that Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of the Renault Nissan Alliance, will visit Chennai, India, in May 2015 to launch the small car. The XBA will be rolled out of the Alliance's plant in Oragadam, Chennai. Further details, as to the pricing and specifications of the XBA, will be disclosed at the time of launch.
Sources say that the XBA will be powered by an 800 cc petrol engine, matched to manual and automated manual transmissions. The XBA will also debut the CMF-A platform, which will later underpin a small car based on the Datsun Redi-Go concept.
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Rivaling the likes of the Maruti Alto and Hyundai Eon, Renault India is betting big on the XBA to increase its market share to 5 percent, from the current 2.5 percent. Tier II and III cities are being targeted to drive volumes of the small car. Apart from the XBA, Renault India will launch its people-carried, the Lodgy, by April this year.
Competitors: Chevrolet Spark, Datsun redi-Go, Maruti Alto, Hyundai Eon
Expected Price: INR 3-4 lakhs, ex-Showroom
Launch date: May 2015 in India
[Source - ET Auto]
