Today morning Renault India commenced exports of the Duster to RHD markets around the world starting with UK and Ireland from the Ennore port in Chennai.
The first two export markets for Renault India will sell the Duster as a Dacia. The cars are manufactured at the Renault-Nissan alliance plant in Oragadam, Chennai, the only production plant in the world that makes the Duster in RHD.
350 cars were loaded on to a ship that will leave to the UK today. Sales of the Duster begin in Britain in January 2013 across 127 Renault dealerships that are equipped with dedicated space and sales persons to sell the "shockingly affordable" SUV.
The Duster will retail in three trims - Access, Ambiance and Laureate - from £8,995 (7.88 lakhs INR). Pre-orders for the Duster started back in June and over 1,000 Britons have already booked their cars with a deposit of £100.
Dacia Duster OTR prices in the UK
Trim level | Version | Insurance Group | OTR Price |
Access | 1.6 105 4x2 | 7P | £8,995 |
1.6 105 4x4 | 7P | £10,995 | |
Ambiance | 1.5 dCi 110 4x2 | 10P | £11,495 |
1.5 dCi 110 4x4 | 10P | £13,495 | |
Laureate | 1.5 dCi 110 4x2 | 10P | £12,995 |
1.5 dCi 110 4x4 | 10P | £14,995 |
The Dacia Duster is powered by either a 1.6-litre petrol engine putting out 104hp paired to a five-speed manual gearbox, or a 1.5-liter turbo diesel engine rated at 108hp coupled to a six-speed manual.
The Dacia Duster comes with a standard three year/60,000 mile warranty.
Renault have already delivered 19,000 Dusters in India in 5 months, and we don't need a trade report analysis to declare it as a success. 75 sales and service outlets will be up and running by the end of November. Back at the factory, the Duster is made across three shifts for 6 days a week to slash waiting periods that now run into months, as well as serve more export markets.