Renault Announces USD2,500 Car

Nissan Mixim Concept car

To be built in India with Bajaj

By Frank de Leeuw van Weenen
May 12, 2008 11:01 AM
Filed Under: Japanese, Nissan, Renault

Following in the footsteps of Tata, Renault-Nissan Alliance and Bajaj Auto have today announced their own ultra-budget car with a starting price of just USD 2,500. The car is codenamed ULC and will be built at an all-new, yet to be constructed production plant in Chakan, India.

A new joint venture will be producing the mini car with Bajaj Auto owning 50%, Renault 25% and Nissan 25%. Initial production numbers are set at 400,000 units per year for mainly the growing Indian market and is planned to go on sale in 2011, other emerging markets will possibly follow.

The project has already left its initial feasibility reports and moved into Joint Production Development and is on target to meet its budgeted performance and cost.

Source: Renault

Press Release (Click to expand)

Bajaj Auto and the Renault-Nissan Alliance to build the car code-named ULC with wholesale price range starting from 2500 USD

Mr. Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj and Mr. Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Renault and President and CEO of Nissan, today announced they will form a joint-venture company to develop, produce and market the car code-named ULC with wholesale price range starting from 2500 USD. The new joint-venture company will be 50% owned by Bajaj Auto, 25% by Renault and 25% by Nissan.

Targeting the growing Indian new vehicle market, the ULC will be made at an all-new plant to be constructed in Chakan (Maharashtra state) in India. Initial planned capacity will be 400,000 units per year. Sales will start in early 2011 in India, as a primary market, with growth potential in other emerging markets around the world.

The feasibility has already extended into Joint Product Development and the project is on line to meet targeted performance & cost.

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Comments

NitrousOxide

May 12, 2008 12:21 PM

Start your nightmares Ratan Tata!! :D Nissan is coming..

wolff

May 12, 2008 1:33 PM

Nissan doesnt have any prescence in India.. they barely sell cars here, n Bajaj is a motorbike company, dont think this'd work all that well!!

BMWdude

May 12, 2008 12:52 PM

Looks like Tata has started a revolution with the nano. As he rightly said, the poor certainly have the right to enjoy the joys of driving and owning a car.With the Bajaj-Renault-Nissan Car, there also seems to be a variety of choices coming soon.

joelynn

May 12, 2008 1:47 PM

They better be careful about promising the price in dollars- 2,500 USD will soon be the cost of a packet of crisps (or Potato Chips as I believe they call them) better quote it in a more stable currency like the Turkish Lira ; )

The_woo_factor

May 12, 2008 1:57 PM

Bajaj...distinctly ahead? ahead of what? bicycles? what a pile of crap.

wolff

May 12, 2008 4:07 PM

no offence!! but cut the crap!!

wolff

May 12, 2008 4:37 PM

well, no offence really.. but y do many of u guys have an inferiority complex here?? i mean, y those stupid comments when it comes to India n China?? :O for heaven's sake half the things that u own would be coming from these places!! :O

wolff

May 12, 2008 4:38 PM

ooops.. my bad.. i meant Superiority complex, not inferiority!!

tiguy2000

May 25, 2008 3:24 AM

lol, guys relax, nissan hasnt done a single bad step in the last decade... well maybe they have but nothing involving an important partnership. They ve let GM down!!! I already have 4 in my garage, that s all I gotta say.

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