At the unveiling of the Bajaj RE60, the company’s CEO Rajiv Bajaj told reporters that they were open to talks with Renault-Nissan for the use the RE60′s platform to manufacture a compact car. Officials from Japan and France were invited to see the RE60 at the Bajaj stall in the Auto Expo. The RE60 was completely developed in-house by Bajaj with no assistance from either Nissan or Renault.
Since Mr Bajaj’s invitation, we have not heard anything from the Franco-Japanese camp.
It is now being reported in some sections of the media that the visitors are yet to confirm their interest in using the platform to roll out an inexpensive vehicle.
Renault may not have had the best of the year with an haywire pricing strategy and limited dealerships. However, the company wants to show its commitments to the Indian market at the 2012 Auto Expo. The company plans to showcase the much anticipated Renault Duster – a compact SUV to take on the likes of the Ford EcoSport.
The Duster promises to be the sub 10 lakh SUV that India always wanted. The 1.6 liter petrol variant produces 105BHP. The other two are 1.5 liter capacity diesel engines producing 90BHP and 107BHP. The five passenger model will be available from mid 2012.
The Renault-Nissan India chapter may not finish with the 4,500 crore facility setup in Oragadam, Chennai if a new report on LiveMint is accurate. It could mark the beginning as Renault maybe planning the next billion dollar investment in the developing Detroit of Asia – Gujarat.
The Renault Twizy electric vehicle is an inexpensive runabout the ULC could mimic
Renault is apparently discussing internally on a second manufacturing facility in Vadordra that can roll out 400,000 cars a year. Much of this factory’s volume, like its Chennai counterpart, is for export through neighboring ports.
The annual capacity in the Chennai plant can stretch up to 400,000 cars. Nissan plans to reach the limit by manufacturing the Micra, Sunny, Note replacement, NV200, Duster and assemble some Renault models. Sources have told IndianAutosBlog.com that Renault will manufacture a sedan on the V-Platform besides the Pulse hatchback next year in Oragadam. Production of the Micra accounts for the most capacity utilization.
If construction is underway in Gujarat in the next couple of years, the first car will roll out by the end of 2015. The company could invest in excess of 10,000 crore to setup the facility and prepare a vendor base that it can tap into for sourcing cheaper components for global Renault models.
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The Telegraph has reported that Renault’s forthcoming hatchback for the B and B+ segment in India is codenamed B58. We have gone through details of the B+ hatchback on previous occasions. Here’s a round up of what we know about this elusive city car -
1) Renault’s B+ hatch sits on the V-Platform which underpins the Nissan Micra and upcoming Nissan Almera/Sunny/Global sedan
2) It will be powered by the same 1.2 3yl petrol/1.5 K9K diesel engine used on the Micra/Verito.
3) It could feature a tall boy design with the demeanor of a Suzuki WagonR (sells 12k-13k units month). Can Renault provide the Maruti buyer a stylish and more frugal alternative?
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IAB reader Bairesh Raj passed on these spyshots of the Renault Fluence testing on the GST road near Chennai. The launch will unfold in the next few months during which we expect Renault to announce a 1.5-liter diesel (think Nissan Micra) and a 2.0-liter petrol engine.
The Fluence will brought down to India from Turkey in the form of knock-down kits. Renault will be anxious to break out of the shell the Logan created with the more modern Fluence positioned in the Corolla-Cruze territory. Earlier spy pics sent by our Pune reader Snatak suggested Renault will offer an automatic transmission, possibly married to the diesel engine. Before that, Renault has to set up a dealership network.
Earlier, we brought you a scoop about a mysterious SUV spotted on the GST road which leads to Renault-Nissan JV plant at Oragadam. We predicted that Renault is testing the Duster in India. Now, Overdrive magazine confirms that the Duster will make it to the Indian shores by early 2012. Overdrive reports the Duster will be priced at about Rs 7 lakh for the 2WD version and Rs 9 lakh [ Read More ]
The Ultra Low Cost (ULC) car project involving Bajaj and Renault – Nissan has come to a temporary standstill. The problem this time seems to be issues related with the production and branding of the car. The Bajaj and Renault-Nissan ULC car was originally supposed to hit Indian roads this year, followed by a release in International markets, a year later. But, due to delays in the execution of the project plans, the launch dates of the car kept getting pushed. The car is now scheduled for a launch sometime in 2012.
The delays in the implementation of the project plan seem to be the result of the three companies focusing largely on their individual game plans for the Indian market and thereby leading to a delay in the implementation of the ULC”s project plan.
Bajaj Auto will be handling aspects of the car such as its design, engineering, sourcing and manufacturing while the Renault-Nissan alliance will focus on the marketing and selling of the car.
Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director, Bajaj Auto Limited -
Bajaj Auto has not finalised any production plans as of now, despite the launch of the car being less than two years away
Kiminobu Tokuyama, Managing Director and CEO, Nissan India -
We are to yet finalise production plans of the Ultra Low Cost car. No decision has been taken yet
With two of the three companies involved in the ULC car project stating that the production plans for the car have yet to be finalised, there seems to be no end to the delays that the project has been plagued with. It now seems as if the JV trio of Bajaj, Renault and Nissan will have another announcement of a delay to their ULC car project. Will this car ever see day light?
The 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.
At the unveiling of the Bajaj RE60, the company’s CEO Rajiv Bajaj told reporters that they were open to talks with Renault-Nissan for the use the RE60′s platform to manufacture a compact car. Officials from Japan and France were invited to see the RE60 at the Bajaj stall in the Auto Expo. The RE60 was completely developed in-house by Bajaj with no assistance from either Nissan or Renault.
