Renault to make India export hub

By agencies   |   Tuesday, 22 March 2005, 20:30 IST
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MUMBAI:French carmaker Renault will make India as a hub for exporting the Logan car to other countries in the sub-continent as well as other right-hand drive markets, along with its joint venture partner Mahindra and Mahindra, India’s largest tractor maker. Logan was launched last year in Romania and Renault will launch it in other countries this year. This is the first time Logan is being made in a right-hand version and India will be first country where the car will be manufactured. The made-in-India car will be sold in all right-hand car markets where Renault has a presence. Renault is also exploring the option of sourcing components from India, Renault Group chairman and CEO Louis Schweitzer said. “In the course of our operations in India if we find suppliers who make quality products, are competitive and have the ability to meet our demands, we will explore the possibility of sourcing components from India” Schweitzer said. Mahindra and Mahindra and Renault are also working on a separate deal for distribution of the Scorpio brand of sports utility vehicle through Renault’s international distribution channel. India, of late has turned the export hub of many automobile majors including Hyundai, Volvo, Mahindra and Mahindra and Telco. While Hyundai is exporting its small car ‘Santro’ to Europe, Volvo is selling its buses and lorries to neighboring countries, Mahindra and Mahindra is selling its hugely successful ‘Scorpio’ and Telco is exporting its small car ‘Indica ‘to Britain to be sold by a British company under its brand name.