Renault to Separate India Powertrain Ops, Opens Door for Horse Powertrain

French carmaker Renault, which has recently renewed its push to revive growth in the Indian market, has approached the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to seek approval for restructuring its India operations by moving its powertrain business into a dedicated entity and integrating vehicle manufacturing and sales under one unit.

The company said the move is aimed at creating clearer operating structures that reflect the distinct requirements of its different business segments and strengthen India’s role as a manufacturing and export hub.

The restructuring is part of Renault’s broader strategy to scale up its presence in India and support exports from the country, with the company targeting exports of up to 2 billion euros annually by 2030.

Renault said the proposed changes will not disrupt its ongoing operations or affect stakeholders across the value chain. “There is no impact on employees, customers, dealers, suppliers, or partners. Employment terms, service continuity, and existing relationships remain unchanged, and business continues as usual,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

The restructuring comes as Renault is scripting its ambitious chapter in India with complete control of the Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd (RNAIPL) plant, a €600 million investment, and a renewed global vision.

With limited global options, India is a linchpin for growth for the French brand. With an investment of Rs 5,400 crore in India, the region has re‑entered the Group’s global growth radar.

In the wake of a strategic realignment with its global alliance partner Nissan, Renault recently took full control of the Indian manufacturing entity - Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd (RNAIPL) - from Nissan. RNAIPL is the central manufacturing base for Renault and Nissan in India, producing models like the Kwid, Triber, Magnite, and Kiger from its plant in Oragadam near Chennai.

Renault is also accelerating product launches across multiple powertrains to revive its position in the India market after years of declining sales and relevance. The shift marks a move away from its earlier slow rollout strategy that allowed rivals to strengthen their presence through frequent model introductions. 

The Duster facelift, which will also have a hybrid variant, signals the start of this renewed push. Renault’s sales have fallen from over 135,000 units and about 4% market share in 2016-17 to under 38,000 units and below 1% share in 2024-25. The company now aims to rebuild volumes and regain a 3–5% market share by 2030.

This move could pave the way for global powertrain supplier Horse Powertrain’s expansion into India. Horse Powertrain, backed by Renault and China’s Geely, has been evaluating multiple ways to enter the Indian market as the company looks at India as a key strategic growth market.

Horse Powertrain, which already supplies engines for Renault Group’s operations in Chennai, is placing hybrid technologies at the centre of its powertrain strategy, positioning strong hybrids, plug-in hybrids and range-extender systems as its main commercial focus for markets such as India. 

In an interaction with Autocar Professional earlier this year, Horse Powertrain’s head of sales and business development Carolina Mechai said the company is evaluating multiple ways to enter India, including localisation through existing partners, co-development programmes with Indian OEMs and, over time, the possibility of setting up local manufacturing followed by export operations from India.