[volkman10]

India a key market in Renault-Nissan alliance overhaul.

The automakers reached a deal in principle to restructure their two-decade partnership by putting both companies on an equal footing in terms of shareholding and with Nissan investing in Renault’s new electric vehicle (EV) unit.

The French and Japanese companies announced they had identified key projects on which they would deepen collaboration in India, Latin America and Europe, without elaborating.

Companies to share, cross-badge cars in India.
Evaluating Renault's Duster SUV for re-launch
Nissan joins Renault's small EV study in India.

A revamped alliance between Renault and Nissan will face an early test in India, where the automakers plan new investment in a bid to close the gap on rivals.

In India, the world’s fastest-growing car market, the new investment will be led by Nissan, and the companies are evaluating vehicles they could launch from 2025.
That could include a reboot for Renault’s popular Duster sport-utility vehicle.

Renault-Nissan also plan to return to a strategy of sharing and cross-badging vehicles in India, aiming to increase plant utilisation rates and reduce costs, the people said. The Duster SUV, for instance, is being considered for launch under both the Nissan and Renault brands.

The new collaboration underscores the pressure automakers face as they invest in EVs, automation and other software services even as demand for gasoline cars greatly outstrips that for EVs, especially in up-and-coming markets like India.

It also points to the rising potential for sales in India, which last year overtook Japan to become the world’s third-largest car market. Industry-wide sales in India surged 23% last year to 4.4 million, according to S&P Global Mobility, while other major markets faced supply constraints.

COMPLEX CROSSOVER:

The first test for the new Renault-Nissan approach could be the Renault Triber, a seven-seat car that the companies have discussed selling in India under the Nissan brand, one of the people said. Those talks were put on hold while they negotiated the broader partnership.

Renault is considering an electric version of its mass-market Kwid small car for India.

The carmakers also plan to bring an existing alliance platform to India that will allow them to build bigger models like the Duster. Renault-Nissan already share an alliance platform in India for its small cars.

Renault and Nissan together had around 3% of the Indian market in 2022. Unlike Nissan, Renault does not have a significant presence in major markets like China, the United States and Japan, raising the stakes for its success in India.

In India, the two automakers have a complex crossover of interests, with joint ownership of a car plant and a research and development centre in the southern city of Chennai.

The plant can produce about 500,000 cars a year but is only running at about a third of that capacity, industry data show. Nissan owns 70% of the plant, but its sales in India lag Renault’s. Nissan sold just 35,000 vehicles in India in 2022 – 60% below Renault’s 87,000.

Renault has a bigger stake in the research centre, which focuses on localising vehicles for India and global markets.

Cross-badging carries the risk that a Nissan version of a vehicle could cannibalise sales for the Renault equivalent or vice-versa. That was one reason the companies previously scrapped the approach.

But rivals like Japan’s Toyota Motor and partner Suzuki Motor have had success with the strategy in India.

In Latin America, Renault and Nissan are studying the shared use of low-cost vehicle platforms, a person with knowledge of the plan there said. The alliance has plants in Mexico and Argentina.

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[GTO]

Nissan India is like a terminally ill patient who keeps ending up in the ICU every year. Refer to my Nissan India deathwatch series (Nissan India Deathwatch - Will Nissan exit India?). They bounced back (sort of) with the Magnite, but are back on the death bed. In November & December, Nissan sold 2000 odd cars in total. A car manufacturer cannot survive on these kinds of volumes. Heck, I know online startups & dealership groups that do more cars a month.

Renault-Nissan are the only ones who drown us with talk of "alliance cost efficiencies", shared platforms, synergies and all the corporate spiel, with nothing to show for it. Carlos Ghosn destroyed both companies, especially Nissan.

Renault India clearly is the better performer of the two. They have launched some products that were good at the time (Duster, Kwid etc.). Even the Triber is such an intelligent car. But Renault desperately needs a 15-lakh rupee crossover.

[RedTerrano]

Nissan sucks at vehicle sales in India. I suspect their strategy is to focus more on manufacturing for exports than the domestic market.
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...-vehicles.html (Nissan India achieves exports of 10 lakh vehicles)

As an existing Nissan customer, it pains me to see no new exciting vehicles from their stable in the Indian market. Hell, once upon a time, I was naive enough to think they might even launch the Nissan GT-R (R35) in India

Here is what I wish for the Renault-Nissan union.
They pool resources for building the platform and drive train.
Nissan is in charge of styling.
Renault handles the sales, marketing and service.

I feel they have untapped potential, and they can make it work, if they set their mind to it.

[Mr.Boss]

Originally Posted by RedTerrano

Renault handles the sales, marketing and service.

Despite the Joint venture, Renault & Nissan are competitors in market. So this is most unlikely to happen.

[deehunk]

Originally Posted by GTO

Nissan India is like a terminally ill patient who keeps ending up in the ICU every year.
Renault India is the better performer of the two. They have launched some products that were good at the time (Duster, Kwid etc.). Even the Triber is such an intelligent car. But Renault desperately needs a 15-lakh rupee crossover.

Nissan is like an ever pregnant never delivery specimen in the Indian automotive sector. Renault should have launched Triber with the 1.0L t/c engine long back.

[Bismaya]

Originally Posted by GTO

Renault India clearly is the better performer of the two. They have launched some products that were good at the time (Duster, Kwid etc.). Even the Triber is such an intelligent car. But Renault desperately needs a 15-lakh rupee crossover.

Not going to lie here but there have been times when I have questioned Renault's future in India. I have seen the sales chart from days when Magnite was making huge rounds on sales on Kiger and having considered dropping the idea of a Kiger purchase entirely. As months passed by, I could see Renault doing better in terms of sales and Kiger boucing back into huge numbers over Magnite.

I waited from March 2021 to Sept 2022 before making a long term investment of buying a Renault. I wanted to be sure that the Kiger story wouldn't end like the Captur. Triber's increasing sales only added to my growing assurance that it was worth investing into one.

While they has the CSUV range sorted (for now), I definitely back you up on the fact that they need a midsize SUV (Creta and Grand Vitara rival). MSIL's success of Grand Vitara is a testment that with a decent offering, it isn't difficult to tussle with the segment leader and shake them to their core.

Renault needs to re-think their strategy and do a lot better than the Duster and Captur, while keeping in mind what is the requirement for the 15-Lakh budget buyers.

[Asoon]

Renault-Nissan group is in ventilator. None of their products have been about to build a strong positioning, I am sure if other other manufacturers (Maruti, Hyundai etc.) can make waiting periods disappear then, Renault - Nissan market share will drop to one third.

Kwid | Kiger | Magnite have no USP no strong appeal, they are just another player in the segment with good looks, thats it. Kiger offers the cheapest 7 seat experience. But none of them seems well built / justify european badge

Duster was a missed opportunity, they slept on the success and where generation behind features, facelift, engines when competition arrived.

Last year Nissan showcased a few models (Xtrail etc.) but again there is no update. Moreover they need to understand that just launching something which they have will not work (Meridian, Kicks, Capture, Scross, CRV etc.), one need to understand India market and build products for India (Venue / Sonet, Kwid, Baleno, Brezza, upcoming Fronx all Mahindra/ TATA Cars)

[audioholic]

If I were Renault-Nissan I would focus on bringing in their entry level EVs sold in the Europe like the Zoe and create a trend amongst young buyers and set up themselves in a playing field where only Tata currently is with the Tiago EV. Its fruitless to go and fight in the upper segments which have already seen developments over the years and with well established models. Its not always right to follow the existing trend especially when they are easily a few years behind. So trying the compact SUV or neighboring segments will be a waste of money since by the time they have a product the market would have shifted to Hybrids, EV and so.

Similar case for Honda. If they are focusing now on getting a Creta rival, then they are very late into the party and all the fun would have been over by then. Over the last few years market has become more mature and would definitely accept a trendsetter compared to before, like how a completely new brand MG was accepted with craze. Similarly the Renault Nissan must focus on a complete revamp of portfolio and maintain consistency, product reliability and set a field for themselves.

[Kosfactor]

Perhaps they are trying to sell unsold BS6 (1) inventory before the 2.0 kicks in with such refreshing news. Someone who was otherwise thinking its risky to buy a renault-nissan vehicle may read this news and bring one home hoping for the best.

At this point Nissan can bring a few CKD products that are loaded to the brim and sell them around the 30-40L price range. It would keep the dealers happy, the brand image may get elevated. They can follow up with a compact crossover made in India afterwards which sort of looks like the CKD products.

[anoopGTkrish]

As a Ford owner, I am super skeptical of such huge announcements with no timeline or strategy to back it up. I would sit this one out and not buy a vehicle from either of them till I see some proper action.

[diwakarmuthu]

Originally Posted by GTO

Nissan India is like a terminally ill patient who keeps ending up in the ICU every year.
Renault India clearly is the better performer of the two. They have launched some products that were good at the time (Duster, Kwid etc.). Even the Triber is such an intelligent car. But Renault desperately needs a 15-lakh rupee crossover.

Irrespective of the situation, they don't have any products that will bring volumes or sales. They have failed to visualize Duster beyond the current generation, nor have they leveraged their decade plus presence in the Indian market. As you have mentioned, current volumes of 2000 vehicles will not be enough to cover their basic costs too. I think they will need in this following order:

1. Renault Global has to decide if they want to continue in India. The reboot kind of statements will not lead them anywhere.

2. They had created a good segment - Duster, Kwid, Triber - play to the strengths of the segment and improve their downstream service and support mechanism

3. Create 2 new products - a 15 lakh cross over like you have mentioned and a 20-30 lakh CKD unit that will help the brand grow.

In hindsight, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi are in JV. Maybe Mitsubishi can make use of the Renault infrastructure and release one of their products - Pajero, Montero or Outlander in this price range - Extremely doubtful though!

[volkman10]

Renault -Nissan have announced their future product plan for India after a long time, and have begun work to introduce as many as three new models in our market. As reported earlier, this new India product plan would be backed by an investment of around Rs 4,000 crore (USD 500 million).

New Duster will be a Nissan-derivative
Nissan will also get a Triber-based MPV for India
Entry-level EV confirmed for India as well

New Renault Duster here by 2024-2025

The new Duster that will be here by 2025 will be built on a heavily localised CMF-B modular platform. This platform is expected to have multiple future models, both from Renault and Nissan. The first derivative on this platform – apart from the Duster – will be an all-new SUV that will be sold by Nissan. This new SUV could borrow heavily from the next-gen Duster and is be expected to be on the same lines as the Duster-Terrano duo that was on sale in India earlier
The new Duster will essentially be a production version of the Dacia Bigster concept that has been shown earlier. The SUV will have a five- and seven-seat version, and compete with the the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Taigun, Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Hyundai Alcazar and even the MG Hector Plus.

Renault Triber to spawn a Nissan derivative

Nissan will introduce an all-new MPV in India that will be based on the Renault Triber's CMF-A+ platform. This MPV will help Nissan increase footfalls at its outlets that currently only sell the Magnite SUV.

A-segment EV under consideration for India

Both brands are also considering an all-new entry-level EV based on the CMF-AEV platform for sale in the Latin American market. Renault already sells a Kwid-based EV called Kwid E-Tech in markets like Brazil, among others.

India is expected to be an important market for the Renault Nissan alliance not just for domestic sales, but also for exports. Furthermore, Renault also exited China a few years ago, which meant that India, as a consequence, became an even higher priority.

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[Nithesh_M]

Originally Posted by volkman10

Renault Triber to spawn a Nissan derivative

Nissan will introduce an all-new MPV in India that will be based on the Renault Triber's CMF-A+ platform. This MPV will help Nissan increase footfalls at its outlets that currently only sell the Magnite SUV.

Wow something everyone had been asking about for years finally materializes. But now nobody wants an outdated Triber in new Nissan skin.

All that hype about Mr. Rakesh Srivastava's appointment to subsequently turn around Nissans fortune in India ended up being just that. Hype. Before him they were a one product pony with the Kicks and even now they've been a one trick pony with the Magnite. .

How many new dealerships have they opened in the last 2 years? Asking because there's not one in my city yet. On top of that they didn't even bother replacing the Kicks or updating it with 2020 level equipment.

[volkman10]

Renault Nissan alliance to announce India launch of six new models this week.

Franco-Japanese alliance is expected to make a big announcement in Chennai tomorrow on the launch of half a dozen new product introductions in India, starting 2024.

While the focus will stays on the mainstream internal combustion engine market with the B-segment SUVs, on the electrification front, Renault-Nissan alliance continue to explore the A-segment vehicles.

the core of its new game plan is the introduction of the Alliance’s CMF-B architecture, which is expected to spawn out the new generation Duster and a Nissan equivalent. Also, part of the plan is the Bigster SUV, which will also have a Nissan derivative.

the focus on the mainstream internal combustion engine market will stay on B-segment SUVs in India, on the electrification front, Renault-Nissan alliance will continue to explore the A-segment vehicles

Apart from all new models on the CMF-B architecture, Nissan is also likely to give the Magnite a facelift and introduce some new variants to keep it fresh.

***Till the time the locally produced models hit the road, Renault Nissan alliance will continue to explore CKD and CBU models to keep its product portfolio as fresh as possible.

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[volkman10]

Renault Nissan Alliance to invest Rs 5,300 crore in India, plans six new models including 2 EVs.

Alliance partners rejig their JV stake to 51:49 with Nissan holding the majority. The additional R&D activities will create up to 2,000 new jobs and the alliance expects the Chennai factory to become a carbon-neutral vehicle manufacturing plant.

- Indian market which will see it introduce six models including two electric vehicles in the country, including two new fully electric vehicles, uplifting the Renault-Nissan centre into an international export hub.

- The new framework agreement, Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd (RNAIPL) will move to an ownership of 51% Nissan and 49% Renault, as against the previous 70:30 equity holding.

- Renault Nissan Technology Business Centre (RNTBCI) will move to an ownership of 51% Renault -49% Nissan.

Products:

The six new models will comprise of three for each company, engineered and built in Chennai. They will be built on common Alliance platforms while retaining the individual, distinctive styling of the respective brands.
They will include four new C-segment SUVs. Two new A-segment electric vehicles will be the first EVs for both Renault and Nissan in India, building on the heritage and expertise of both brands in mass-market electrification, which began with the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe more than a decade ago.

The new models will not only cater to the Indian market but will cater to overseas markets from India, boosting plant utilisation to 80% and securing many thousands of jobs at the RNAIPL plant in Chennai for many years to come, the Franco-Japanese alliance informed.

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