Mahindra Renault Sandero in India soon

Renault plans to launch its new hatchback Renault Sandero in India by 2010,  in collaboration with Mahindra.

Mahindra Renault Sandero photo

The companies plan to use their Nashik plant for assembling the vehicles.

The Mahindra Renault Sandero will be available in both petrol and diesel versions, and will fall under the small car category as per the norms given by the government.

The petrol engine is below 1200cc category and diesel below 1500cc with an overall length below 4 meters so as to avail lower excise duty.

The five-door Mahindra Renault Sandero hatchback is very spacious compared to other cars in the small car category, being 4.02 meters in length, with a storage capacity of 320 litres.

Mahindra Renault Sandero boot photo

Adding to the roominess of the hatchback, the rear doors of the Mahindra Renault Sandero open up to an angle of 67°.

The Mahindra Renault Sandero comes with Anti Lock Braking system, a rail direct injection 1.5 dCi engine, and padded doors.

Pawan Goenka, head of Mahindra’s automotive division, said he was not in a position to make any immediate comment on the matter. “Nothing has been decided as yet. Talks are at a preliminary stage,” he said.

In the current market scenario, the Mahindra Renault Sandero would satisfy the needs of both Renault and Mahindra perfectly.

It would give Renault an entry to the small car market without any fresh investments and for Mahindra too, it would mark an entry into the small car market, something the company has so far avoided as it focused only on the utility vehicle and SUV category.

Earlier, the Mahindra Renault Sandero was to be built in Renault-Nissan’s new manufacturing facility near Chennai, but considering the current slowdown in the market, Renault will build the Sandero at the Nashik facility.

Since the Mahindra Renault Sandero is built on the Logan platform, it would be easy to assemble the car at the Nashik plant. The Sandero will be distributed from Mahindra’s existing network that also sells the Logan.

Currently, 140 dealerships sell the Mahindra Logan and the number is likely to be strengthened by 40 more points by the end of 2009.

Mahindra and Renault first entered into a collaboration, with Logan, in February 2005. They formed a 51:49 partnership and lined up an investment of about Rs 700 crore for the Nashik production facility.