Logan creator Gerard Detourbet leads Renault India’s low cost attack

17/12/2012 - 12:06 | Renault | Kaustubh Shinde

2012 Renault-Nissan-Bajaj ULC small car renderingRenault India’s commitment to the Indian market couldn’t have been more serious. After launching a slew of products in a very short period of time, the French automaker is ready to tap the bottom of the pyramid.

The company is planning an onslaught of low cost cars to take on the likes of Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai. The French automaker has called for the help of Gerard Detourbet, the man behind the success of the Logan, to help them crack the low cost car market in India.

Detourbet has been working from the Chennai facility to build an Indian supplier network that will fuel Renault’s India ambitions. The idea is to provide roomier cars for a similar price tag of a Maruti Suzuki or a Hyundai. These new low cost products will also be offered in emerging markets such as Brazil and Russia which show similar characteristics as the Indian market.

Gerard Detourbet, now 66, is responsible for successful low cost products such as the Logan, Duster and Lodgy. These cars are responsible for securing Renault’s future in the current European crisis.

Carlos Ghosn, the CEO of Renault-Nissan, has set his eyes firmly on the Indian market. Both Renault and Nissan will enter the entry level car market with their own products. Renault will enter the segment with the ‘A-Entry’ and Nissan plans its entry under the Datsun brand.

But does India need so many low cost players in the market?

[Note: The image featured in this article is a rendering]

[Source: Economictimes.indiatimes.com]

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