Renault to introduce Kwid, Captur and New Koleos in Brazil

Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn has announced that Renault Brazil will extend its lineup of SUVs with the Kwid, Captur and New Koleos joining the Duster. He also outlined plans for the company’s future in the country during a visit of the Renault Ayrton Senna manufacturing complex in Brazil.

The Kwid will reach Brazil through the CKD route, as kits supplied by Renault India's Chennai manufacturing facility, the mother plant of the Kwid.

“With this new product plan, we expect to capture a significant percentage of the fast-growing SUV segment in Brazil,” said Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn. “With three of our SUV models to be produced in Brazil, our confidence in this market is further confirmed.”

Ghosn also announced that the Renault Captur will be produced in São José dos Pinhais on the same line that currently assembles the Duster, Sandero, Logan, Duster Oroch and Sandero Stepway. The launch of the Captur in the popular, fast-growing C-SUV segment will contribute to Renault’s growth in Brazil.

The Kwid will make its debut in 2017 together with the top-of-the-range New Koleos that will be imported. The Captur will be available during the first half of 2017.

Ghosn also confirmed that all investments announced for the country have been maintained despite the current economic environment. The first investment cycle of Brazilian Real (R$) 1.5 billion (Rs 3,080 crore) for the 2010-2015 period was completed ahead of schedule. The second R$ 500 million (Rs 1,030 crore) investment for the 2014-2019 cycle is in process as planned.

Kwid means business for Renault India

As is known, the Kwid is a made-for-emerging markets car and saw its global reveal in Chennai, India on May 20 last year. The car has proved to be game-changer for Renault in India and, since its launch in September 2015, has sold 66,058 units till June 2016. It is understood that the carmaker has received over 100,000 bookings for the Kwid in India.  

Using CKD kits supplied by Renault India, the Kwid will be assembled at Renault’s Ayrton Senna Industrial Complex in Curitiba, which also produces the Logan, Sandero, Duster, Duster Oroch and Master.

This Brazilian version of the Kwid, says Renault, has been adapted by Renault Technology Americas, which is one of the seven Renault strategic engineering centres across the world and set up at the Brazilian plant. The Kwid has also benefited from the expertise of Renault Design Latin America (RDLA), one of the five Renault strategic design centers, established in São Paulo.

It may be recollected that in February 2016, Mauritius became the first export market for the made-in-India  Renault Kwid with 37 cars being shipped to the island country. The low volumes are likely to be a trend for Kwid’s exports as even Sumit Sawhney, MD, Renault India had explained that the company is initially looking to seed the Kwid into foreign markets and would ramp up volumes later. “The way I see SAARC is today it is an opportunity and tomorrow volumes,” he had said at the sidelines of the Make-in-India week at Mumbai in February. Additionally, the large pent-up domestic demand for the Kwid also makes it difficult to ramp up export volumes.

Based on the CMF-A platform and developed by the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the Kwid has received tremendous response from Indian customers and there is a waiting of 4-6 months on the car at present. Given the overwhelming response, Renault India has increased production to 10,000 units in March 2016.

As Autocar Professional had previously reported, apart from the SAARC region, Renault India will be exporting the Kwid to Brazil and other parts of Latin America through the CKD route. The other market which would get the Kwid this year is Africa.

Also read: Renault-Nissan Alliance to invest $800 million in Argentina