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It is widely known that Renault is interested in the <8L category in India (Google "Renault India B-Segment").
A common misconception is thinking that they are targeting the Indian B-Segment (like this Business Line article). I think it is too optimistic to target the <4L category before you have a proper setup (dealers, high localisation levels, etc.) here. If you thought of the Nissan Micra, FYI Nissan exports 4 times as many Micras from here as they sell within India.
I think what Renault means by B-segment is the European B-Segment (for eg. Renault Clio), hence the <8L assumption. This B-segment hatch/sedan is expected to hit the showrooms in 2012.
Diverging from the topic a bit.
Apart from the usual stuff brand image, market dynamics, etc. one of the major points an automaker comsiders while zeroing in on a model is the model platform. Now, Renault has a huge lineup of models in its international stable. Yet, it decides to enter the Indian market (in its recent avatar) with the Fluence; no problem with that. They probably want to build an upmarket image (especially after the Logan beating they took). Then they decide to launch an upmarket SUV, the Koleos. This, after the company has already announced its intention to be a volume player in the Indian market. Seemed a bit strange to me.
The reason is the model platform. If you check Wikipedia for the Fluence, Koleos, you will notice that they come from the same "Nissan C platform". This helps in sharing of costs between the two models. For example, they can use a very similar supplier base for the two models and similar components too (even similar engines).
Now back to the topic,
The only other model Renault has confirmed for India is the Duster (from Renault's low-cost brand Dacia, also Logan's parent). If you go to the Duster page on wikipedia, you will see that it's from the "Dacia B0 Platform" aka Nissan B platform.
Assuming that Renault is interested in keeping the costs low in India, it may be fair to say that they would stick to Dacia's line-up.Looking under the Dacia brand in the models from this platform, you see that the only options are the Logan and the Sandero. I would think that Renault would not bring the Logan again to India, especially since Mahindra is already selling it as the Verito. Also, it would be too costly to give it a facelift and then introduce it here.
But it makes a lot of sense to bring in the Sandero. It is a model built for the emering markets, so should be quite cost effective. Being from the same platform as the Duster, a lot of suppliers and components could be shared between both the models, thus saving costs for them.
Hence I ask, is Renault planning to introduce the Sandero in 2012? Thoughts appreciated...
PS: I know that the analysis is too simplistic. But it's better than a wild guess
There have been pics of the Modus floating around. But I do not think we would be getting the Modus because it does not have a sedan version anywhere in the world. And Renault has been clear about introducing a sedan version too. Internationally, the Modus hatch has been stretched into an MPV but not a sedan. The Sandero is specifically made for the emerging markets (built and sold in Russia, Brazil and Eastern Europe) and is available in a sedan version. Things should be clear by this weekend, i guess.
