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.

The Oragadam plant near Chennai has an annual production capacity of 4.8 lakh units, shared equally between Renault and Nissan. Renault sold 42,018 vehicles in the Indian market during FY26. Even with existing exports and the Duster's recent launch, domestic demand alone is not enough to fully utilise the plant. That makes exports an important part of Renault's long-term manufacturing strategy.

Renault has already set an ambitious target of generating €2 billion in annual export revenue from India by 2030. To put that into perspective, India's total passenger vehicle exports in FY26 were worth around $9 billion across all manufacturers. Reaching that target would make Renault one of the country's major automotive exporters over the next few years.

The new Duster is expected to play a key role in that plan. It is the first Renault model in India to use the Renault Group Modular Platform (RGMP), which supports both petrol and hybrid powertrains. The SUV has also earned a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating across all variants, making it suitable for a wider range of export markets. South Africa is the first destination, but Renault has already indicated that exports will expand to both right-hand-drive and left-hand-drive markets in the coming months.