Renault working with govt on electric vehicle policy: company MD

The govt goal to achieve 100% electric mobility by 2030 would require right taxation, proper infra including charging technology and battery technology

French automobile manufactuer Renault has said that it is working with the Government of India to come out with policy on electric vehicles, to put in place clarity on various aspects of establishing an electric vehicle market in the country. The company said that as one of the major players in the electric vehicle segment, along with its global partner Nissan, it has the capability to introduce the electric vehicles in the country, but the infrastructure is not ready.

Speaking to reporters after unveiling its new premium Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) Captur in Chennai, Sumit Sawhney said that launching electric vehicles in India "depends on the government policies and how they want to take it forward". While the government aims to achieve 100 per cent electric mobility in 2030, it is looking at various aspects of this goal.

It would require the right taxation, proper infrastructure including charging technology, battery technology and others. The government is working on this and the company is also working with the government for clarity. He said that the government is expected to come out with some results soon.

The company, which currently has three brands -- Kwid, Duster and Lodgy -- will be launching its fourth model, Captur, in India by the end of this month. It is the seventh largest player in the passenger car segment, with the three brands, he claimed.

He said that the company is expanding its network from over 300 dealerships now to 320 by the end of the year. It would also look at expanding its mobile workshops to 75 by the end of March, 2018. It will have over 300 service centres including the mobile workshops. The company currently utilises around 60-65 per cent of its existing manufacturing capacity in two shifts. It is looking at almost 80 per cent localisation for Captur, while the localisation in models like Kwid is higher in order to face the competition, he added.