Mahindra Renault Sandero for India

Following the fair amount of success the company has had with its Logan model, Mahindra & Mahindra is now looking at building the Renault hatchback Sandero in the country.

Mahindra is in fact eyeing a dominant slot in the utility vehicle maker category in the global level. The plan to engineer the Sandero comes as a follow-up to this. In this regard, the company seems to be more than willing to participate in the greater ecosystem of the sector through partnerships, said a report. Mahindra & Mahindra has already made its presence with its entry level sedan, the Logan. More are to come.

Mahindra’s planning to manufacture the Renault Sandero in India has been rumoured about since last year. We had reported that the Mahindra Renault Sandero may come to India in February 2008.

Like the Renault Logan, the Sandero too could be available in both petrol and diesel versions in India. Mahindra will ensure that the Sandero falls in the small car category to allow it to avail of benefits.

So the petrol engine would be less than 1200 cc, and the overall length of the car would be less than 4 meters.

It has been pointed out that Mahindra & Mahindra will also be looking at making a small car as Renault aims at launching a small car in India. This apart, Mahindra might go for a tie up with Malaysian major Proton to launch Proton’s small car in India.

Planning on another level, the Mahindras is also looking at developing a vehicle on the lines of US President Barack Obama’s official car nicknamed ‘The Devil’. The car will be aimed at clients from the country’s political circles. The company is said to be keen on making a prototype of the car not just for the Prime Minister but for any VIP in India. The company meanwhile has already manufactured armored Scorpios for VVIPs. It has also exported five armored Scorpios to Sri Lanka as part of the Presidential fleet n the island nation.

In the Indian defence sector, the company has already provide as many as 200 Rakshaks to the Indian Army in three years and nine armoured Scorpios last year. Besides, the company high-mobility vehicle ‘AXE’ is currently under trial at army’s facilities in Ahmednagar.

With the Sandero and the small car too coming up, Mahindra & Mahindra will have enough reason to be a dominant player in the country’s commercial as well as the defence vehicles’ manufacturing segment.