way2speed: Renault India Private Limited

Renault India Private Limited is celebrating its second year.

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Renault India Private Limited is the Indian subsidiary of Renault S.A. of France, with its headquarters in Mumbai. The company has production facilities in Chennai and Tamil Nadu.

In 2005, Renault established a 51:49 joint venture with Mahindra & Mahindra Limited to form Mahindra Renault Limited. In May 2007, the joint-venture launched the Renault Logan, produced at a manufacturing plant in Nashik, Maharashtra. Initially, the Logan met with considerable success but sales slipped with competition against newer models from Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Toyota. The Logan was criticised for its boxy looks and awkward ergonomics. Although built as a Right Hand drive vehicle for the Indian market, the Logan's ergonomics were configured for a Left Hand drive vehicle.

In February 2010, Mahindra and Renault announced the dissolution of their joint-venture, with Mahindra buying out Renault's shares. Renault agreed to provide support to M&M through a license agreement as well as to supply key components and the Renault Logan became the Mahindra Verito. Following its exit from the joint-venture, Renault entered the Indian market on its own.

In September 2008, Renault India opened its fifth global vehicle design studio in Mumbai.

In March 2010, Renault India and Nissan India opened a production facility in Chennai.

Established with an initial investment of 45 billion (US$770 million), the plant has a combined annual capactity to produce 400,000 vehicles.

Each partner is entitled to half the production capacity.

As of May 2011, Renault India had 16 dealerships in 16 cities across 9 states and 2 Union Territories.

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