Posts Tagged ‘Renault’

Renault India to re-look Mahindra JV

Mahindra Renault LoganThe shake-up could lead to good or bad news. The decision is just weeks away

The Indian wing of French carmaker Renault will restructure the JV it signed four years ago with Mahindra. The first and only offering of this partnership, the Renault Logan, which got off to a flying start has simmered down to a level of 500 units a month raising difficult questions. The Logan has received no cosmetic makeovers in its lifetime here in India. It also has not received new engines, transmissions or any mechanical upgrades.

One possible outcome of the restructuring could be a sub-4 metre Logan with a 1.2-liter petrol engine which makes it a small car. Renault could tinker its body, install new grilles and headlamps and sell it with a smaller diesel engine. But that is easier said than done.

Chief operating office Sudhir Rao, Renault India -

We are exploring all options. A final decision on this will be taken in 30 to 45 days

There have been countless theories on what Renault plans to do in India. One story claims they would end the joint venture, while the other claims they would use the Logan’s platform to produce a hatchback and other variants as part of the venture. Guess the end to all this is near its own end.

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Entry posted on February 9th, 2010 and filed under Mahindra, Renault

Renault puts Chennai investment on hold; Will it walk out of the JV?

Renault_Logan-crash

The tale of Renault’s losing battle in India continues to take new turns and shortcuts to reach a nearest dead-end. First, Mahindra dropped-out of the three-way JV in Chennai. Leave alone Logan’s sub-1000 sales figures, due to the the poor economic state, Renault was left in a bit of a soup, car sales of the brand was affected globally.

Yesterday, Renault’s official has communicated with DNA and confirmed it will defer its investment on the Chennai plant.

Renault country general manager India operations Marc Nassif -

Renault would defer its investment in the assembly line for its cars — till the economic situation improved. Our commitment to invest in the Chennai facility and India remains undiluted.

The Renault-Bajaj ULC has also faced its quota of problems. One party wants the vehicle to compete with the Tata Nano directly, while the other wants it to be positioned elsewhere. Apart from this dilemma, nothing else about the product, its development or progress has made headlines anywhere.

Sources tell us Renault might not extend its relationship with Mahindra beyond the under-performing Logan in Nashik. Mahindra has said slight modifications to the product could enable it to qualify for lower excise duty, but no breakthrough has been reached. With speed breakers popping up everywhere and now even in the JV down south, one cannot but think Renault would pull the plug in India.

Nissan is however confident of its plans and it has assured us about the Micra and a sedan based on it, which will roll out of the Oragadam plant next year. Nissan will also build three other cars in India and import niche models, the first of which is the 370Z, possibly at the Auto Expo.

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Entry posted on September 28th, 2009 and filed under Renault

Would Renault learn from its mistakes this time?

Would Renault learn from its mistakes this time?

The deteriorating sales of Logan hasn’t deterred Renault’s aggressive plans of producing cars at its Chennai plant by 2011. According to Mr Marc Nassif, Country General Manager, Renault India, Renault globally has small cars, sedans and sport-utility vehicles, its just that they have to select the right model that’s best for India.

Renault is expected to launch its first compact hatchback next year, followed by a notchback in 2011 (possibly the Sandero and its derivative). Renault has frozen investments in its JV plant with Nissan at Chennai, but it could use that facility.

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Entry posted on June 29th, 2009 and filed under Renault

2011 Bajaj ULC to be a world car; smaller than the average hatchback

The Bajaj ULC project was deployed into action by Nissan, Renault and Indian bike and 3-wheeler manufacturer Bajaj last year by displaying a prototype at the Delhi AutoExpo. Ever since the Nano was formally announced on March 23, the Bajaj’s Nano has drawn wide interest of the Indian public.

The Hindu Business Line reports Brazil will be an overseas market where the Bajaj ULC will be sold with either a Renault or Nissan logo. Additionally, the size of this car will be smaller than the cars sold presently in Brazil.

Nissan’s head Carlos Ghosn goes on air often hinting this small car would be priced around $2,500, but Rajiv Bajaj, MD Bajaj Auto, who conveys that only has been the direction of the project and not the intention.

The Bajaj’s small car will instead carve out its identity as the most fuel-efficient car instead of the cheapest, the former the framework of any low-cost motorcycle. As the project matures, the transmission type and related choices will be frozen.

According to the reports emerged before, the transmission would combine the best of an automatic and manual gearbox, and the engine would be a highly efficient 2-cylinder, of petrol and diesel forms.

click through for image gallery

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Entry posted on May 4th, 2009 and filed under Bajaj

Renault might bring Sandero hatchback to India in 2010

Renault might bring Sandero hatchback to India in 2010

The French carmaker, Renault in collaboration with Indian UV maker Mahindra is planning to launch the Sandero hatchback in the Indian market by the year 2010. The plan will help both companies to make use of the full capacity at the Nashik plant, as Logan sales are drowning in India.

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Entry posted on February 24th, 2009 and filed under Mahindra, Renault

Renault puts new car launches on hold in India

Renault puts new car launches on hold in India

The French car manufacturer Renault, who presently sells the Logan with a tie up with Mahindra, has delayed its plans to launch new car models till 2010.The plans have been shelved due the poor economic conditions prevailing in India.

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Entry posted on February 18th, 2009 and filed under Renault

Hyundai’s low cost car simple and more functional; m badges for i20 and i30 MPVs

Hyundai’s low cost car simple and more functional; m badges for i20 and i30 MPVs

Korean carmaker Hyundai has made grand plans to rival Japanese car major Toyota’s iQ. The iQ is among the smallest cars you can buy off a showroom, whose concept was introduced back in 2007 at a glitzy Frankfurt Motor Show in 2007.

Sources in Hyundai have revealed the car will look simpler but will be more functional. This gives rise to doubts whether this is the small car which Hyundai will position under the Santro in India in 2011.

“It would be sort of modular and minimalist in a Citroën 2CV kind of way,” he added. That’s a big indication that yes, something simple is coming from Hyundai’s house and after knowing how Indians have received the i10, this may be another blockbuster. Chances are this car will be produced only in India, just like the i10, but that’s just a calculated guess from us here at Indian Autos Blog.

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Entry posted on February 2nd, 2009 and filed under Hyundai

2009 Nissan 370Z- Advertisement, India Price and Specifications

2009 Nissan 370Z- Advertisement, India Price and Specifications

The 2009 Nissan 370Z is the first full redesign of the iconic Nissan 350Z since its introduction in 2003. The new model builds on the strengths of its predecessor, with a brilliant balance of power, performance, handling and style. The engine was from Renault, the car was designed in America by an Indian! These are the Z’s Indian connection! Now, Nissan has revealed complete pricing details for its new 370Z in order to help prospective customers to start arranging for finances.

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Entry posted on January 1st, 2009 and filed under Nissan

Mahindra Renault refuses to supply Logan to Mumbai taxi drivers

Mahindra Renault refuses to supply Logan to Mumbai taxi drivers

Mahindra Renault Logan- when you think of this name, space, space and more space comes to your mind- Why, it’s India’s firse wide body car.

Mumbai Taxi driver’s association were looking to replace their fleet which presently boasts of decade old cars like the black-yellow Premier Padmini which can’t serve as taxis in 21st century any more. They thought the Mahindra Renault Logan was an excellent alternative. It’s got a large boot, the best shoulder and leg room for five adults and a frugal diesel engine.

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Entry posted on December 30th, 2008 and filed under Mahindra, Renault

Skoda Superb Parking Assist bags Sky Motoring Best Gadget Award

Skoda Superb Parking Assist bags Sky Motoring Best Gadget Award

The new Skoda Superb has received yet another award in the form of Sky Motoring’s Best Gadget honour.
Skoda’s innovative Parking Assist beat opposition from BMW and Renault to take the honour in the motoring website’s annual awards. Sky Motoring’s judges praised the Superb’s Parking Assistant system for its ease of use despite the car being ‘King sized’ and commented “It sounds destined for a slot on ‘It’ll never work’, but we tested it several times and, shock horror, it actually works.”

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Entry posted on December 24th, 2008 and filed under Awards, Skoda

Low Cost Brand from Fiat for Europe- Possible partnership with Tata Motors

Low Cost Brand from Fiat for Europe- Possible partnership with Tata Motors

Italian car maker Fiat is planning to launch a new low cost brand in Europe and bring to the market, three models under a new low-cost brand tag.

Pricing would be lower than current Fiat models, which have moved marginally upscale. An example: Fiat 500 was once (in the 60’s) the brand’s cheap city car, but the latest generation is more of a lifestyle vehicle. Fiat would make something similar to the 500, but would cost a lot lesser.

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Entry posted on November 29th, 2008 and filed under Fiat

Video- Renault’s V6 dCi Diesel engine

Video- Renault’s V6 dCi Diesel engine

French Automaker Renault recently unveiled a new V6 diesel engine. A V6 diesel engine might never find its way into Renault’s Indian offerings, but it certainly gives us an idea of what Renault’s R&D is up to and what we can expect from their diesel cars in the future.

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Entry posted on November 21st, 2008 and filed under Renault, Technical

Renault is designing Bajaj’s low cost car

French manufacturer Renault Motors is designing the entry-level low cost car (codenamed ULC) that it going to be rolled out jointly with Nissan Motors and Bajaj Auto from their Chakan unit in Maharashtra by 2011.
The final shape of the car has already been decided and the French automaker’s team will continue its styling until [...]

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Entry posted on November 15th, 2008 and filed under Bajaj, Renault, Small cars
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