New Renault Duster Export Begins From India, First Shipment To South Africa

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First batch of 750 India-made Dusters have left Chennai for South Africa as Renault adds an export role to its RGMP-based SUV

Renault India has started exports of the all-new Duster as the first batch of 750 units have been sent from Chennai to South Africa. The shipment begins the export programme for the new SUV with more international markets set to join in the coming months. The new Duster is manufactured at Renault India’s Oragadam plant near Chennai.

The facility has an annual production capacity of 4,80,000 units and already supports Renault’s domestic operations. The company also has close to 638 sales and service touchpoints in India including more than 200 Workshop on Wheels locations. The export dispatch fits into Renault’s long term plans for India as it wants its local operation to take a larger role in manufacturing, engineering and exports over the next few years.

The all-new Duster is the first Renault model in India to use the Renault Group Modular Platform (RGMP). The architecture has been developed to support different powertrain types and will also underpin future Renault products. The SUV has secured a five-star Bharat NCAP safety rating across variants and powertrains giving it a base to rely on for domestic sales as well as export markets.

The Indian-spec Duster is offered with two turbocharged petrol engine options. The 1.0-litre three-cylinder Turbo TCe 100 engine kicks out 100 hp and 166 Nm and is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. The 1.3-litre four-cylinder Turbo TCe 160 engine develops 163 PS and 280 Nm with six-speed manual and six-speed wet-clutch DCT options.

Renault also lists a strong-hybrid E-Tech 160 powertrain for the Duster. The setup uses a 1.8-litre petrol engine, a 1.4 kWh battery pack, an eight-speed auto and two electric motors. The Duster measures over 4.3 metres in length and offers a ground clearance of 212 mm. Prices in India start at Rs. 10.49 lakh and go up to Rs. 18.69 lakh (ex-showroom) based on variant and powertrain choices.

The South Africa shipment gives Renault India a new export line at a time when the company is preparing additional products for the domestic market as a new three-row SUV based on the Duster and a localised A-segment EV are under development. The French auto major has also set a target of generating €2 billion in annual exports from India by 2030.

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