Renault India targets 1 lakh sales this year

Kolkata: Renault India, which started its Indian operations independently four years ago, is aiming to cross the one lakh sales mark this calendar year.

"So far from January to August 2016, we have sold 87,000 cars out of which 65,000 units are Kwid. We hope that full-year sales will cross 1 lakh," said Sumit Sawhney, country CEO and MD of Renault India.

Last year, the company sold only 50,000 cars, he said.

On the company's strategy for the Indian market, he said "Every year, we will be launching a brand new car from next year. We are now in the portfolio development mode."

Kwid, the mini car from the Renault stable, was among the top 10 best-selling cars in India at the moment, Sawhney said, pointing to opportunity in the mini car segment.

From India, Renault will be exporting Kwid to SAARC countries Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. The car will also be manufactured from Brazil.

"Brazil will be the second country to manufacture Kwid after India. While growing our volumes will be the main focus, more launches on the sub-four metre segment are also on the cards," he said.

On the company's market share, Sawhney put it as 4.5 per cent from January to August 2016. "Our intention is to touch 5 per cent by December 2016," he added.

Besides expanding the dealership network in metros and smaller towns, Renault's focus will be on sale of used multi-brand cars under 'Renault Selection'.

Renault's India portfolio consists of Fluence, Scala, Lodgy, Duster and Koleos.