Renault Exports First 750 New Duster SUVs From India To South Africa

Renault begins exporting the new Duster from India, with 750 units shipped to South Africa.

Renault India has started exporting the latest Duster model to international markets. The first batch of 750 SUVs has been shipped to South Africa from Chennai port. However, according to the company, this is just the beginning of the export initiative, and the SUV will reach many other markets abroad within the next few months. The new-generation Duster was launched in India earlier this year, while customer deliveries began a few months ago.

All new Duster is assembled in Renault India's Oragadam plant located near Chennai with the total annual production capacity of 4.8 lakh units. At the same time, the company wants to expand the role of its Indian manufacturing facilities in global manufacturing and engineering projects. The company aims to earn €2 billion annually from exports from India by 2030. Renault has more than 638 dealerships and service centers in India and more than 200 Workshop on Wheels outlets providing doorstep services to customers.

Stephane Deblaise, CEO of Renault Group India, said the start of Duster exports reflects the importance of Renault's Chennai facility and India's growing role in the company's global business.

Also, the latest Duster is the first Renault model in India to use the Renault Group Modular Platform (RGMP). It is capable of assembling models with both petrol and hybrid powertrains. Recently, the model received five stars in the Bharat NCAP crash test program across all variants and powertrain options.

Available powertrains include the 1.0-litre three-cylinder Turbo TCe 100 petrol engine generating 100 hp and 166 Nm of torque with a six-speed manual gearbox. Also, buyers can get the 1.3-litre Turbo TCe 160 petrol engine developing 163 PS and 280 Nm coupled with a six-speed manual or a six-speed wet-clutch DCT automatic transmission. 

The Duster is also available with the E-Tech 160 strong-hybrid powertrain. It includes a 1.8-litre petrol engine, two electric motors, and a 1.4 kWh battery pack with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It measures more than 4.3 metres in length and offers 212 mm of ground clearance. In India, the price of the car ranges from Rs. 10.49 lakh to Rs. 18.69 lakh (ex-showroom).

In the future, Renault plans to develop a three-row SUV based on the Duster as well as a localized A-segment electric vehicle for the Indian market. With exports now underway, the Duster will play major role in Renault's future plans for both the Indian and international markets.