Renault to launch Koleos, Fluence production in 2011

New Delhi: With a switch in focus to emerging economies, French car-maker Renault expects India to become its 11th largest market by 2013, by which time it also expects to sell six locally produced models.

"Let us look at how our growth is shaping up in our key emerging markets -- Brazil, Russia and India... As for India, with sales growing nine-fold in three years, it is set to gain 20 spots to become 11th in our ranking," Renault chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn said while laying down the company's roadmap till 2016.

The company currently does not sell any car in India.

"In India, until now, we did not have vehicles adapted for the market and locally produced. In Chennai, we will launch production of Koleos and Fluence in 2011. We will localise a SUV in 2012, as well as small vehicle based on a Nissan platform, specifically designed for India," Ghosn said.

The company wants to have six locally produced models by 2013. Post-2013, it aims to enter the highly lucrative Indian small car segment with a model designed and developed specifically for it.

The Renault-Nissan alliance has a Rs4,500 crore manufacturing facility already up and in operation in Chennai, with a total annual capacity of four lakh units. The facility already has Nissan producing its 'Micra' hatchback from there.

According to the company's estimates, sales in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) have increased four-fold in the last 10 years and currently account for one- third of car sales worldwide.