Renault, Nissan put India center stage, look to redraw their EV rollout plan

Renault and Nissan last week revealed plans to relook at their India strategy, including previously decided plans for launching electric vehicles in the country. The companies stressed that India could be central to their development plans.

"India will play an increasingly important role in the alliance and each one of the companies," Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault, told reporters, referring to the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi automotive alliance.

At a press meet in Chennai, Renault and Nissan announced they would launch four new models -- a five-seater and seven-seater SUV from each manufacturer. But they were mum on plans to launch electric vehicles in India.

Asked about plans to launch global EV models under the government's new EV manufacturing policy announced last month, de Meo said the company was still accessing the policy. "We are rethinking our strategy entirely. We do that because we know it's crucial, and we want to come up with a plan that will be solid, effective and sustainable," he said.

De Meo said the alliance needed to find its footing before jumping into EVs in India, and that while battery powered vehicles were definitely in plans for the future, their introduction and model selection would depend on the success of the upcoming SUVs.

Nissan, meanwhile, plans to add alternative fuel to its India lineup, the company's CEO Makoto Uchida said.

The alliance has capacity to produce about 4.4 lakh cars per annum at its plant in Chennai – Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd.

Meanwhile, the Franco-Japanese alliance said it aimed to keep India at the center of its global expansion plans, with Jean-Dominique Senard, head of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi grouping telling reporters India was "a vibrant ecosystem of limitless opportunities." He emphasized that besides development of new models for India and export, the group's plan included enhancement of new technologies, such as autonomous driving, connectivity and electrification.

The alliance plans to develop India as a 360-degree hub that will service its global ambitions, Renault's de Meo said, adding that the Renault Nissan Technology and Business Center India (RNTBCI) at Chennai would become one of the main centers of excellence for the alliance's work in digital, artificial intelligence, human-machine interface and connectivity.

RNTBCI, established in 2007, is the largest techno-centre globally for both Renault and Nissan. "We are all very aware of the quality and skills of the people in this country. These people are clearly at the forefront of innovation, worldwide," de Meo added.