Renault's AWD version of Duster this festive season

Buoyed by the success of its sports utility vehicle (SUV) Duster in India, French automobile maker, Renault, is planning to launch the all-wheel drive (AWD) version of the model in the country before this festive season, said Sumit Sawhney, chief executive and managing director of Renault for India.

Renault has sold over a million Duster SUVs across the globe thus far, and has crossed the 100,000-unit sales milestone in India since its launch close to two years now.

Speaking to Business Standard, Sawhney said the company was gearing up to launch a small car in the already-competitive mid-mass market in India in the sub-Rs 4 lakh range.

“We will be making a strong entry there (mid-mass car market),” he said, adding the company was aiming at taking its share in the Indian car market from the present 2-3 per cent to 5 per cent by the next calendar year, backed by the new launches.

Renault today roped in Autologic Motors India as its fourth dealership in Hyderabad. The company has five outlets in Telangana and six in Andhra Pradesh.

“We will be opening a dealership each in the two states soon,” he said, adding the company would be scaling up its dealership network across the country from the present 141 to 175 by the end of this calendar.