The company also recently announced the opening of its largest design centre outside France in India. Renault currently operates more than 350 sales outlets and 450 service points across the country.Renault Group has acquired Nissan’s 51 per cent stake in their joint manufacturing facility in Chennai — Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Limited (RNAIPL) — becoming the sole owner of the plant. The move marks a significant step in Renault’s global expansion strategy, aimed at strengthening its operations and exports from India.
The company has also appointed Stéphane Deblaise as the new CEO of Renault Group in India, effective September 1, 2025, to lead its next phase of growth.
India positioned as global export and innovation hub
India, currently the world’s third-largest automotive market, grew by 7 per cent in 2024 and is projected to expand by 3.5 per cent in 2025. Renault aims to make the country a central part of its global operations, backed by its industrial infrastructure and supplier network.
With full ownership of the Chennai plant, Renault will fully consolidate the site into its financials. The facility has produced over 2.8 million vehicles and 4.6 million engines and gearboxes since its launch in 2010. Around 1.2 million of these vehicles have been exported to over 100 countries. The plant, supported by a supplier base of around 300 companies, has an annual production capacity of more than 400,000 units.
Currently focused on the CMF-A and CMF-A+ platforms, the plant will also house Renault’s new flexible, multi-energy platform to support future models. The company’s product expansion begins with the launch of the new Renault Triber and will include four new vehicles.
R&D and continued cooperation with Nissan
Renault continues to operate a joint engineering centre with Nissan in India, playing a key role in developing models for both local and international markets. Under the new arrangement, the Chennai plant will also continue to produce Nissan models.
François Provost, CEO of Renault Group, said, “India is a key market for Renault Group. Over the past 14 years, we have successfully established the Renault brand thanks to our dedicated teams and partners, reaching peak sales of over 100,000 vehicles sold per year. India also plays a vital role in our global R&D footprint. With full ownership of our plant in Chennai, we now have all the means to accelerate in India. Stéphane Deblaise, with his strong international experience and deep knowledge across our entire value chain, is ideally positioned to design and implement our strategy in the region.”
The company also recently announced the opening of its largest design centre outside France in India. Renault currently operates more than 350 sales outlets and 450 service points across the country.
