New Delhi: French carmaker Renault launched its luxury sedan Fluence in India with both petrol and diesel options, priced between Rs 12.99 lakh and Rs 14.40 lakh (ex showroom Delhi).
"The Renault Fluence was designed for the Asian market and hence we are confident that it will not only shake up the segment, but also give the Indian customer their first taste of what Renault is capable of bringing to the Indian market," Renault India Managing Director Marc Nassif told reporters here.
This is the first Renault branded car to be assembled in India at its Chennai facility, he added. Petrol variant of the Fluence will come with a 2 litre engine while the diesel option will be powered by a 1.5 litre engine.
Renault along with its global alliance Nissan has committed an investment of Rs 4,500 crore by 2015 at Chennai facility, which will have a total production capacity of 4 lakh units per annum.
Renault India is pining hope on the Fluence to make its presence felt in the country after its failed joint venture with Mahindra & Mahindra to sell entry level sedan Logan.
The new product will be sold in the country as completely knocked down (CKD) units and will be assembled at Oragadam facility, near Chennai.
The Chennai facility will have two assembly lines, out of which only one is operational at present with an installed capacity of two lakh units annually. Renault will start the second line in mid 2012, taking the total installed capacity to four lakh units per annum.
The French company is currently considering setting up an engine assembly plant at the facility. He said the company at present has 14 dealership network and it will be increased to 100 outlets by 2012-end.
Renault had earlier announced to launch five cars by 2012. After Fluence, a sports utility vehicle Koleos will be introduced later this year, followed by three more cars next year that will include a hatchback.
"India is one of the three key strategic countries in Renault's international operations. Our aim is to sell 1 lakh cars by 2013," Nassif said. Renault India aims to become one of the top three international auto makers in the country, he added.
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