Renault to have 100 dealers in India by 2012 end

French carmaker Renault today said it will expand its pan-India dealership network to 100 by 2012 end from the existing 14 dealer outlets.

"We are looking seriously towards India, which is amongst the top three strategic markets for us. We shall have 40 dealers by end of this year and ramp it up to 100 by 2012 end, when our five models shall be on Indian roads," Renault India Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Len Curran told PTI.

The company targets to have 100 dealers across 75 cities in the country.

"We plan to launch Koleos, a high-end SUV, in October this year, which shall be followed by roll-out of three more cars next year including a B-segment hatchback," he said.

With the proposed launch of four more car models in India over next one year period, the Europe's second largest carmaker is also likely to increase the localisation of products.

"By the time we have five models on Indian roads the localisation of products can go up to 60 per cent," a company spokesperson said.

The company today launched its luxury sedan - Fluence - here, at present the only car to be assembled in India at its Renault-Nissan joint alliance manufacturing facility in Chennai.

"We shall be moving from tier I cities to tier II and III, and as we move ahead dealer network shall get expanded," Curran said.