The international expansion of the Renault looks more like a bad way bodywork than a highway. The manufacturer is mired in India and Russia, two markets where it had high hopes. They were supposed to offset sluggish sales of cars in Europe. In India, where he joined the Indian manufacturer Mahindra and Mahindra, Renault can not impose its Logan. It sold only 500 copies in September 1 750 cons last year at the same time. In the first six months of the year, it has passed only 2 900, more than three times less than in the first half of 2008 (9 200). This performance is particularly disappointing that the Indian market has regained its strength (+14.8% between April and September).
If the low-cost car is a hit among European car on a budget, it is not considered affordable by the Indian middle class.This model is "more expensive than what we expected in India," a market "extremely price sensitive, acknowledged Wednesday Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault-Nissan on the sidelines of the Tokyo Motor Show. If no answer is found, "we will launch a second car, probably with a different partner," he said before the Indian press.
Earlier last year, which it had dissociated Mahindra Renault-Nissan by withdrawing from the project to build a plant in Chennai (formerly Madras, in south-east of the peninsula). Nissan will build its first car in May 2010. But Renault, because of the crisis, for now frozen its production plans.
Another project to be delayed is the ultra low cost car (ULC called), in partnership with Indian manufacturer Bajaj.While the commercialization of this model was initially scheduled for early 2011, the definition phase of the "concept" drags on. "This project has been delayed, Renault did not put all means, says an internal source. It should be revived in post-crisis in late 2010 or early 2011 for a market that seems difficult before 2013. "
Clash of cultures
Renault still looking for "the proper positioning of the ULC" against the Tata Nano, that is to say "a little above or below" the cheapest car in the world, launched in July at a price of $ 2 500 (1 600 euros), says a close case. But the project also suffers from culture shock. On the one hand, Bajaj is a manufacturer of motorcycles and three-wheeled, used to a production of "frugal" but having no experience in the automobile.On the other, the French group tends to impose its methods "square" and its quality processes.
These difficulties in India in addition to those faced by Renault in Russia (see box). This is particularly disadvantageous for the group with the diamond he has not chosen to settle in another major emerging country, China has become the biggest car market in the world. It is also one who is spreading the fastest (up 42% since the beginning of the year).
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