• Renault to launch 4 new SUVs by 2026.
• Plant use is to rise from 50% to full capacity.
• India to become design and export hub for Renault.

Renault India will ramp up production and export volumes with a pandemic-post-lockdown return to production, its new line of SUVs, following the total acquisition of Nissan's stake in its Chennai manufacturing facility. Venkatram Mamillapalle, Managing Director, has elevated Renault's plan to introduce compact and mid-sized SUVs to stimulate domestic sales and grow existing underutilized capacity in the Chennai plant, to a more aggressive strategy.

Currently, annual output is at just under 50% capacity so Renault's plan is to increase the utilization rate of the plant to 80 - 100% through further investment to the tune of around $600 million with an output roadmap that includes four SUVs - two Renault and two Nissan, planned for a release date between 2025 and 2026. Refreshing existing products such as the Triber and Kiger is also part of the plan. New models are intended for Indian customers, but also have export plans.

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Currently, Renault's Kwid, Kiger and Triber accounts for less than 1% of global sales and less than 2% of market share in India. The company is aware that it is have to shift this performance and its strategy is to target the high-growth SUV segment, which currently makes up about 65% of car sales across the country as they will move forward with new models in the future. New models will be built in India and for export while using Chennai as a global manufacturing hub.

The July 2025 announcement firmly anchors Renault's shift to India-first design and manufacturing. By taking full control over the site, Renault can make faster decisions in its own interest, and put more flexibility into its operations. The expansion of internal SUV supply is aimed to fulfil rapidly growing domestic demand, plus demand in export markets, especially in Southeast Asia, South Africa, and the SAARC region.

This product-plus-export initiative is part of the more extensive ₹5,300 crore investment plan shared with Nissan, and aims to launch at least six local assembly models, including electric vehicles, over the next few years. Renault has ambitions to ramp up vehicle production to 350,000 unit per year annual by 2026, based on both retail sales and exporting.