Renault eyes local manufacturing of electric vehicles in India as it is part of the 2022 mid-term agenda
Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) announced a while ago that it would not sell diesel engine powered cars following the implementation of BSVI emission standards coming into effect from April 2020. It could be nearly impossible to discontinue all of the diesel powertrains within its lineup but the majority of the models will have them axed from their range.
It contradicted Hyundai and Ford’s statements, as they would want to retail diesel engines wherever the demand exists. Hyundai’s 1.2-litre U2 diesel engine will reportedly continue to be employed in the next generation Grand i10 and refreshed Xcent but some other manufacturers do not reflect on the same sentiments.
Mahindra’s smallest diesel engine, the 1.2-litre found in the KUV100 and Tata Motors’ 1.05-litre Revotron diesel used in the Tiago will also hang their boot. Renault, on the other hand, will go by the same route as the brand’s Chief Executive Officer Thierry Bollore “believe(s) so” in the discontinuation of oil-burners within the Indian portfolio after April 2020.
While talking during the global unveil of the Triber seven-seater MPV, he indicated the decrease in popularity of diesel engines across the globe and the French brand has decided to limit the development of such powertrains in the near future. The volume sales of diesel compared to petrol have significantly reduced in recent years in India.
The Triber will be sold in India with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine only. It will produce 72 PS and 96 Nm and is connected to either a five-speed manual or a five-speed AMT transmission. Thierry Bollore went on to say that electric vehicles are part of the brand’s mid-term 2020 strategy for India.
Renault is looking at locally production EVs and is open to partnerships with domestic carmakers in regards to the electric mobility front. The company is also expected to introduce a sub-four-metre SUV based on Kwid’s CMF-A platform next year to improve its sales figures in the country.