Renault commences exports from Oragadam facility

Ships 350 cars to the United Kingdom, says Chennai will become a hub for right-hand drive vehicles

Renault India today commenced exports of the first batch of its SUV, Duster, with a shipment of 350 cars to the United Kingdom.

The vehicles were loaded in a vessel berthed at Ennore Port, near Chennai.

The company, which introduced the SUV five months back, said it delivered 19,000 units of the SUV and that Chennai will become a hub for right-hand drive vehicles.

Marc Nassif, Managing Director, Renault India confirmed that the first consignment is for UK and Ireland, and that the company has made its first entry into right-hand drive markets across the globe.

"The Oragam facility near Chennai is currently the only facility globally to produce the right-hand drive Duster, which will be both sold in the domestic market and exported from here. India will be the right-hand hub for Renault," said Nassif.

He added that the Duster was launched in the domestic market in July 2012 and domestically supplied around 19,000 units of the Duster being sold till November.

Dusters for the overseas markets will be available in both variants and have undergone modifications to meet individual market regulations.

Nassif said no company apart from Renault so far delivered five cars in 16-17 months.