Renault and Nissan announced a new long-term vision for India that will increase production and R&D activities, introduce electric vehicles, and transition to carbon-neutral manufacturing.
From their base in Chennai, the companies say they will collaborate on six new production vehicles for domestic and international customers, including two new fully electric vehicles, uplifting the Renault-Nissan centre into an international export hub.
The six new models will be represent three from 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, and two new A-segment electric vehicles that will be the first EVs for both Renault and Nissan in India. The companies say the EVs will build 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.
Renault and Nissan add that an initial investment of around $600m USD / ₹5300 bn INR is planned to support the new projects, which will see an up to 2,000 additional new jobs created at the Renault Nissan Technology & Business Centre in Chennai. At the same time, the RNAIPL factory will become carbon-neutral with a significant increase in renewable energy generation.
“Renault and Nissan are fully committed to the Indian market, committed to electrifying the Indian market and committed to minimizing our impact on the environment,” said Guillaume Cartier, chairperson for Nissan’s Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania region. “India was the first Alliance plant and India will be at the centre of this new chapter of the Alliance, with new vehicles, new R&D activities and new export markets taking our joint operations to the next level. For the first time, the Nissan line-up in India will reflect our global power in high-quality SUVs and EVs, bringing greater value to our employees, customers and communities.”
