Renault eyes full capacity at Chennai plant, no new partner planned

French carmaker Renault, which is charting out a turnaround in India after it decided to buy out its alliance partner Nissan’s 51 per cent stake in Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd (RNAIPL), is eyeing to touch full capacity utilisation at the Chennai plant of RNAIPL within the next few years — from the current close to 50 per cent — riding on fresh domestic product launches, exports, and contract-manufacturing, a senior company official said, adding that the firm is not looking for any new partner at the moment.

 

In a major product launch from Renault in five years, the company on Wednesday launched a next-generation Triber priced attractively between ₹6.2 lakh and ₹8.4 lakh.

 

Renault India is fully integrated in terms of its design, engineering, manufacturing, and commercial (sales and service network) operations. “We are as integrated as any other Indian auto original equipment manufacturer (OEM),” said Venkatram Mamillapalle, managing director (MD), Renault India. While Mamillapalle did not wish to comment on market speculations, he added that Renault India is not looking for another partner at the moment.

 

Earlier this year, Renault had indicated that it would acquire 51 per cent stake in RNAIPL from Nissan Motor Company. Mamillapalle said that the transaction is almost complete, and should be over within the next few weeks. Renault now plans to expand the capacity utilisation at the facility near Chennai to 100 per cent over the next few years. “Currently, we are close to 50 per cent capacity utilisation at this facility, which can make 472,000 cars annually. This is combining domestic sales, exports, etc.,” Mamillapalle said. Renault will also contract-manufacture cars for Nissan at this site.

 

The company did not share targets about share of export vis-à-vis domestic sales but added that it would be exploring expansion of product portfolio in left-hand-drive markets. In 2024-25 (FY25), Renault India sold only 38,636 units in retail, cornering a 0.93 per cent market share, down from 1.18 per cent in FY24.

 

Mamillapalle said that the company had not had a launch in the last five years — the Triber (2019) was followed by the Kiger (2020), and then the Covid-19 pandemic hit, along with the semiconductor crisis. Globally also, the Renault group saw profits fall, and it focused on the European market. In 2023, Renault announced plans to invest $600 million in India (most of it is done by now), and bring in four new cars. 

 

The Renault India MD said that starting with the new Triber, the fresh product launches begin. In the next two years, the company will bring in four products. As a result, its addressable market would increase from the current 28-29 per cent to 50 per cent, thereby changing the consumer profile, he added.

 

“We are here to stay, play, and win,” Mamillapalle said, reiterating Renault’s commitment to India.

 

Renault India also unveiled its new logo, which is more minimalist. Originally introduced in 1925, Renault’s diamond logo has undergone various updates. All its 350 sales touchpoints will undergo a branding change with the new logo over the next few months.

 

The Renault group has appointed Stephane Deblaise as the new chief executive officer (CEO) for its India operations, effective September 1, 2025. In this role, Deblaise will oversee all Renault group entities in India, and will be responsible for shaping and executing the group’s strategy in the country.

 

He will report directly to Francois Provost, the Renault group’s chief of procurement, partnerships, and public affairs. The appointment underscores Renault’s renewed focus on India as a strategic growth market.

 

Mamillapalle will continue in his current role and support Deblaise on corporate affairs to help build the company’s mid-term growth road map. Most recently, Deblaise served as CEO of Renault Korea, where he led key transformation efforts, including turning Korea into a global development and production hub for mid- and large-sized vehicles, and modernising the Busan plant for multi-energy vehicle manufacturing.