Renault Group has identified 2025 as a pivotal year for its operations in India—an inflection point that sets the stage for its next phase of growth in the region. The journey has already begun with two major moves: the acquisition of the remaining 51% stake in its Chennai manufacturing facility from Nissan, and the launch of its largest global design center outside France, also in Chennai.
These milestones reflect Renault’s deepening commitment to India and its vision to lead the transformation of the country’s mobility landscape. Venkatram Mamillapalle, Country CEO and Managing Director, Renault India Operations, said, “The launch of the ‘renault. rethink.’ strategy marks a new chapter for Renault in India. We are committed to redefining our brand and product positioning and customer experience to meet the evolving needs of our customers. The opening new design centre in Chennai will play a crucial role in the deployment of the Renault International Game Plan, contributing to both local and global product programs.”
A Next-Gen Design Hub in Chennai
Strategically located in Chennai’s vibrant industrial corridor—within the RNTBCI Engineering Center and adjacent to the RNAIPL plant—the new Renault Design Centre replaces the studio established in 2013. Spanning 1,500 m², the center is equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure, offering an ultra-modern space dedicated to vehicle design, innovation, and market-specific development.
“As the world’s third-largest automotive market, India is highly unique and locally driven. Having a dedicated design studio is essential to understanding its nuances, listening to its needs, and building from its strengths. The Renault Design Centre Chennai will focus on developing models and concepts tailored to the Indian market while contributing to Renault Group’s global projects. By leveraging local talents and insights, this center will play a key role in shaping Renault’s future mobility solutions. Its strategic location – at the heart of RNTBCI’s excellence hub – also enables closer collaboration across functions and faster integration of design into our engineering and innovation processes ” stated Laurens van den Acker, Chief Design Officer, Renault Group.
Renault has maintained a design presence in India since 2005, evolving from a design office in Pune to a center in Mumbai, and later to Chennai. This new facility marks a significant leap forward in Renault’s design journey in India and globally.
Key Features of the Renault Design Centre India:
- Immersive Exhibition Space for 3D model evaluation and VR experiences.
- Advanced Visualization Studio for real-time design iteration and presentations.
- Creative Collaboration Zones to foster teamwork and ideation.
- High-Performance LED Wall (8.5m x 2.4m) for impactful visual displays.
- Virtual Reality Integration with three high-res VR stations for lifelike reviews.
- Tactile Confluence design philosophy blending European and Indian aesthetics.
- People-First Layout with flexible WE/ME Zones that encourage creative flow.
Introducing renault. rethink
At the heart of the design center stands renault. rethink, a futuristic conceptual sculpture created by Indian designers. The piece symbolizes Renault’s transformation and India’s role in shaping it. Its angular, fragmented surfaces evoke evolution and emergence, while a glowing core represents the brand’s vision in motion—”Renault is loading.”
This sculpture also serves as a powerful emblem of Renault’s new brand strategy in India: renault. rethink—a bold, forward-looking approach tailored to India’s evolving mobility needs.
“renault. rethink is more than a sculpture – it’s a bold expression of Renault’s vision for India. It symbolizes our commitment to innovation and to designing cars in India, for India. This work which blends craftsmanship and high-tech influences, captures the energy of a nation on the move, and conveys Renault’s new ambitions in India”, stated Laurens van den Acker, Chief Design Officer, Renault Group.
A Milestone in Renault’s Global Design Vision
With the new Chennai facility, Renault strengthens its global design footprint, which includes centers in Paris, Curitiba, Bucharest, Seoul, and now, a flagship hub in India. This expansion reinforces Renault’s ability to combine international design excellence with local insight, creating vehicles that resonate deeply with customers while preparing for the future of mobility.
