Renault Lodgy export-spec and taxi spec in the works - IAB Report
Renault India is targeting exports to RHD markets.
The just-launched Renault Lodgy MPV will have more variants in the immediate future, the company has confirmed.
Talking to IAB at the regional launch in Chennai, Mr. Sumit Sawhney, CEO and Managing Director of Renault India, said that all opportunities are being explored for the Duster-based people carrier which was launched in the city priced between INR 8.3 to 11.9 lakhs (ex-showroom), sporting over 60 changes to suit the Indian buyer.
"We will leverage every possible export opportunity. We are already exporting the Duster and we will do it for the Lodgy..especially for the right-hand drive markets," he expressed.
Until recently, the Renault-Nissan alliance plant in Oragadam, Chennai was the only site that was rolling out the RHD-spec Duster. While British and Irish exports moved to the mother plant in Romania allegedly due to unsatisfactory body quality, the Indian plant is committed to RHD markets like South Africa and Indonesia which have good offtake for MPV models.
Sawhney also said that he would not cordon off the Lodgy's reach to personal car owners. "We are in process to register the Lodgy as a taxi" he added, saying that the product must first gain acceptability with Indian customer before it can be a venerable fleet model commanding good recall.
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The Lodgy is the company's second volume pillar and over due course, its localization level is expected to touch 80 percent. The company's sales outlets would also witness a massive ramp up, with Renault looking to get to 280 points next year from 157 currently.