Renault India believes strong hybrid tech is shaping up to be a huge volume driver for years to come in the Indian market. As such, they’ve been preparing for the big day ahead of time and Francisco Marques, VP of Sales and Marketing at Renault India, had some interesting things to say on the matter in the run-up to the highly-anticipated launch of the Duster hybrid next month. Speaking of the company’s plans to roll out its first strong-hybrid powerplant in the Duster on October 17, Marques stated that he believes they’re looking to build on a long-term plan of bringing the brand back to the fore with a vehicle in a highly competitive segment of the market. He also expressed optimism for strong hybrid tech as a bridge between current ICE vehicles and fully electric cars.
Marques stated that he believes strong hybrids have the potential to be a major volume driver for the company, given that “hybrid is going to be the main volume-making technology probably for the next 10, 15 or 20 years to come.” The comment is telling, as it demonstrates Renault’s realistic approach to the evolution of the automobile in India in the coming years. In short, while many companies are looking to embrace fully electric cars as a way to curb emissions, the Renault representative’s words demonstrate an understanding of the practicality of strong hybrids in the current state of affairs in the Indian automotive market. He goes on to explain that, where the Indian market is concerned, “electric cars are not going to be the answer on their own” due to a lack of charging infrastructure and capacity. Strong hybrids, on the other hand, can satisfy the demand for improved efficiency and emissions performance without requiring large-scale changes to current infrastructure or consumer behaviour.
The upcoming launch of the Duster hybrid demonstrates Renault’s intention to capitalize on the increased appeal of strong hybrids. The vehicle is set to provide buyers with the first-ever taste of Renault’s E-Tech strong hybrid tech in India and will utilise a relatively large petrol engine to satisfy demand for performance while also delivering the improved efficiency and emissions performance associated with hybrid tech. The strong-hybrid powerplant will complement the current turbo-petrol offerings, satisfying a different set of buyer requirements.
Renault’s realistic approach to the evolution of the automobile in India in the coming years has seen the company prepare itself for gradual electrification rather than an abrupt transition to fully electric vehicles. Strong hybrids, which don’t require infrastructure improvements over current ICE vehicles and can provide considerable reductions in emissions and fuel consumption, are seen as a viable option for satisfying consumer demand for reduced emissions without compromising on performance. With the launch of the Duster hybrid slated for October, Marques’ comments demonstrate Renault India’s long-term confidence in hybrid tech as a volume-driver for the company. Rather than looking at electrification in abstract terms, Renault is looking to realistic approaches that will yield tangible results in the short and medium terms. Strong hybrids are the solution to current practical concerns while also satisfying consumer requirements of the present and the near future, making them a viable long-term proposition for the company.