Renault India Private Limited (RIPL), a subsidiary of the French multinational auto maker Renault S.A., has devised some big plans to challenge the likes of Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai in the domestic market. The company has hired Gerard Detourbet, the brain behind Renault's entry-level sedan Logan, to design a low-cost four-wheeler around a $ 5,500 price tag. Detourbet is an automobile expert and has already moved to Chennai earlier this year. The man has a new mission of designing a cheaper alternative (less than Rs. 3 lakhs) for Renault India, which could challenge the likes of entry-level small car line-up of Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai.
Expressing his views on the company's new mission of designing a sub Rs. 3 lakhs passenger vehicle, Detourbet, said, “India is the only country where you begin to see modern cars at this kind of price. Once you've done battle with the world's best cheap car manufacturer, you can go into another country where there isn't a Maruti Suzuki and be relatively comfortable. We don't set out to poach people, but it happens that they sometimes come to us from Suzuki and Hyundai.”
With its upcoming $ 5,500 valued entry-level car, Renault is believed to be aiming towards consolidating its position in lower end auto markets like India, Russia and Brazil amongst others. The French auto major will be looking to outflank some big global automobile firms like Volkswagen, General Motors along with Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai in Indian market. The upcoming sub Rs. 3 lakhs Renault model is believed to pitch against Maruti Suzuki's Alto range and Hyundai's Eon entry-level cars in the country, upon its launch.
