Having challenged Maruti Suzuki credibly in the compact car segment over the years, the French car major Renault Group is set to introduce a new Renault Group Entry Platform (RGEP) in India as it looks to reinforce its presence in the sub-Rs 10 lakh segment.
The move aims to replace its ageing small-car architecture and enable a new generation of compact products, making Renault one of the only four carmakers with a strong presence in the market, alongside Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Hyundai Motor India.
Renault had earlier carved out a strong position in this space with the success of the Kwid, which disrupted the entry hatchback segment and directly challenged Maruti Suzuki’s dominance, helping the French carmaker establish a credible foothold in India’s mass market. This was further enhanced with Triber MPV and Kiger SUV under its CMF-A platform earlier. With the portfolio getting dated on the old architecture, Renault is reinforcing itself in the segment with the new gen entry platform.
Unveiling the company’s new mid-term plan for India, Renault India Managing Director and CEO Stéphane Deblaise said, “The market is evolving, and our current platform no longer supports capabilities such as factory-fitted CNG, newer powertrains and next-generation digital architecture.”
Deblaise said the shift was driven by evolving customer expectations and the limitations of the current CMF-A platform, which underpins models such as the Kwid, Triber and Kiger.
To address this, Renault is transitioning its entry portfolio to the RGEP, the Renault Group Entry Platform architecture, which will form the backbone of its future offerings under ₹10 lakh. The platform is being engineered to balance affordability with a step-up in technology, connectivity and flexibility.
“With RGEP, we are focusing on delivering stronger value with smarter engineering and a more digital experience for customers in the sub-₹10 lakh space,” he said.
A key focus of the new platform will be multi-powertrain capability, including support for factory-fitted CNG options, updated petrol engines and improved electronic architectures, alongside more advanced infotainment and user interfaces. The architecture is also expected to support MULTIPLE BODY STYLES, allowing Renault to build a wider range of compact vehicles off a single platform.
“Customer expectations in India are changing rapidly, and we need a platform that can support new technologies, multiple powertrain options and enhanced connectivity,” Deblaise added.
The transition is expected to begin with upgrades to existing models, including the Kwid and Triber, with the first set of RGEP-based updates slated to roll out over the coming months.
“This evolution will start coming to life in the coming months through upgrades to our existing products,” he said.
The move marks a critical reset for Renault in a segment it helped shape in India but where competitive intensity has risen sharply, with rivals offering higher feature content, multiple fuel options and sharper value propositions even at entry price points.
RGEP will sit at the base of Renault’s broader India product strategy under its “FutuREady India” roadmap, which is compatible to only petrol and CNG, where it is relying on the larger modular platform, RGMP, which will underpin vehicles electrified powertrains – including internal combustion engine, electric and hybrid powertrain,
For Renault, which is targeting a significant scale-up in India over the next few years, the success of the new entry platform will be central to rebuilding volumes, strengthening its compact car play and regaining traction in one of the most competitive segments of the Indian passenger vehicle market.
(With inputs from Arushi Bhatia)