Renault announces plan to launch two EVs in India by 2027

Renault could introduce two electric cars in India in the next two years. After evaluating an EV akin to Dacia’s Spring for several years, the company is now considering larger models.

According to a new report from Autocar Professional, Renault will resume launching new cars in India after a long pause of five years, in 2026. In addition to two high-volume ICE models with the third-gen Duster and the first-ever Bigster, the company is looking to introduce a new electric small SUV called the Kiger EV.

Realising the urgency for new products in its showrooms, Renault has started developing the Kiger EV. The company plans to begin its production in the second half of 2026 and aims to launch it at a competitive price of under 15 lakh Indian rupees (EUR 16,867).

Renault already sells an ICE Kiger in India and plans to give the petrol-powered small SUV a facelift later this year. Interestingly, instead of modifying that model’s CMF-A+ platform to save costs, the company plans to build the Kiger EV on a dedicated EV platform. This marks a significant shift for the French automaker from its usual practice of using old platforms for prolonged periods. It indicates that the company recognises the growing competitive pressures and understands the need for a more proactive strategy to stay relevant.

The report does not say whether Renault is developing a new EV platform for India or plans to use the Euro-focused CMF-B EV platform, which it renamed to AmpR Small in November 2023. The latter could pose a challenge because of its comparatively high cost.

“India is not an easy market—and many car makers have had to bite the dust,” said CEO Luca de Meo on his last visit to India, adding: “We need to find our secret sauce, and in the past, maybe the only thing we were focusing on was trying to get the cheapest possible car to get access to mobility, but the market is changing a lot, so we have to be a little bit more creative.”

Following the Kiger EV, by March 2027, Renault plans to introduce an electric Triber, as Autocar Pro writes. The report does not clarify whether the company plans to launch the electric Triber as a separate model utilising the dedicated EV platform or as a conversion of the existing ICE model.

Renault will likely source the batteries for the Kiger EV and electric Triber locally and is discussing a deal with Tata AutoComp, which imports cells from China’s Gotion and operates a local joint venture with the Chinese supplier called ‘Tata AutoComp Gotion Green Energy Solutions’. Locally sourcing the battery packs may allow the company to price both EVs aggressively, which is its forte with the ICE models it currently sells in India.

autocarpro.in