Renault-Nissan Invest in India for Carbon-Neutrality
Renault and Nissan have unveiled plans for increased production and R&D activities in India, including the introduction of electric vehicles and a shift towards carbon-neutral manufacturing.
Renault and Nissan will work together from their Chennai base on six new production vehicles, including two fully electric models for domestic and international customers, making the centre an export hub.
The companies plan to invest around USD 600 million, creating up to 2,000 new jobs at the Renault Nissan Technology & Business Centre in Chennai, South India. The RNAIPL factory will also transition to carbon-neutral manufacturing, with a focus on increasing renewable energy generation.
The RNAIPL plant, which is already a leading centre for energy and resource reduction within the Alliance, has announced its roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. This will be accomplished through a programme to transition to 100% renewable energy while reducing energy consumption by 50% compared to current levels.
The Chennai Plant already sources over 50% of its electricity from renewable sources like solar, biomass, and wind. The solar plant will be expanded to a 14 MW capacity from 2.2 MW, more than six times its current size.
Guillaume Cartier, Chairperson for Nissan’s Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania region, said: "Renault and Nissan are fully committed to the Indian market, committed to electrifying the Indian market, and committed to minimising our impact on the environment.
“India was the first Alliance plant, and India will be at the centre of this new chapter of the Alliance, with new vehicles, new R&D activities, and new export markets taking our joint operations to the next level.
“For the first time, the Nissan line-up in India will reflect our global power in high-quality SUVs and EVs, bringing greater value to our employees, customers, and communities.”
François Provost, International Development & Partnerships Renault Group and Managing Director of Alliance Purchasing Organization, said: "India is a key market for Renault Group. Over the past 14 years, we have been developing the Renault Brand with our teams and dealers, up to reaching 100 thousand vehicles sold per year. India has also played a key role in our R&D footprint worldwide. This project, together with Nissan, is the first concrete output of the new Alliance ambition released on February 6th.”
Mr. S Krishnan, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries, Government of Tamil Nadu, said: "The Renault-Nissan Alliance in Tamil Nadu has had manufacturing and design facilities operating in the State for more than 15 years now. This is a very valuable and important relationship between the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Alliance. It employs about 15,000 people directly in the State and has been one of the mainstays in ensuring that Tamil Nadu remains the automotive capital of India and an important hub for the manufacture of automobiles and auto components and automobile design as well. We are very excited about this new proposal of modernisation and fresh investment by the Renault-Nissan Alliance in Tamil Nadu. This genuinely brings to life ‘Make in Tamil Nadu and Make in India for the World.’ “
Source: Nissan
