Renault ships first consignment of 750 Duster SUVs from Chennai port to South Africa

CHENNAI: Renault India, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the French carmaker Renault Group, on Monday said it has kick-started exports of its new Duster SUV, with the first shipment leaving for South Africa from Chennai.

The first shipment of 750 vehicles departed from the Chennai port to South Africa, marking the beginning of Renault India's export programme for the new Duster, with additional international markets planned in the coming months, a release here said.

Noting that it is a strong validation of the quality, capabilities, and competitiveness of the company's operations in Chennai, Renault Group India CEO Stephane Deblaise said "it reflects the progress we have made in building India into an integral part of Renault's global industrial footprint."

As Renault continues to expand its international footprint, Deblaise said, "India will play an increasingly strategic role in our future plans. We remain committed to contributing to the country's manufacturing ambitions and are working towards our objective of generating Euro 2 billion in annual exports from India by 2030".

India possesses all the fundamentals required to emerge as a leading automotive export hub - world-class manufacturing capabilities, engineering talent, scale, and a rapidly evolving logistics ecosystem, he noted.